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Pediatric ulcerative colitis: current treatment approaches including role of infliximab

Authors Bradley, Oliva-Hemker M

Received 16 March 2012

Accepted for publication 20 April 2012

Published 5 June 2012 Volume 2012:6 Pages 125—134

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/BTT.S31833

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Gia M Bradley, Maria Oliva-Hemker
Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

Abstract: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can lead to derangements in the growth, nutritional status, and psychosocial development of affected children. There are several medical options for the induction and maintenance of disease remission, but the benefits of these medications need to be carefully weighed against the risks, especially in the pediatric population. As the etiology of the disease has become increasingly understood, newer therapeutic alternatives have arisen in the form of biologic therapies, which are monoclonal antibodies targeted to a specific protein or receptor. This review will discuss the classical treatments for children with ulcerative colitis, including 5-aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, thiopurine immunomodulators, and calcineurin inhibitors, with a particular focus on the newer class of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents.

Keywords: 5-aminosalicylates, anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents, corticosteroids, cyclosporine, inflammatory bowel disease, thiopurine immunomodulators

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