Biologics In Inflammatory Bowel Disease An Issue Of Gastroenterology Clinics Of North America

By the time this issue of Gastroenterology Clinics of North America is released, it will have been 16 years since infliximab was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn disease. Not only have we come a long way in understanding the efficacy and safety of infliximab, we are beginning to understand how and when to use the drug. Furthermore, as of this writing, we have five other biologic agents approved for either Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis, and there are many more molecules currently in drug development for these indications. In this issue,the Editors have assembled a collection of experts to provide the most cutting-edge information on the status of biologic therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. Loftus is a widely recognized expert in the diagnosis and treatment of Crohn's disease. He has created an issue devoted the current state-of-the-art on Crohn's disease; authors have written comprehensive reviews on the latest research to inform clinical diagnosis and treatment. Articles are devoted to the following topics: Genetics; Epidemiology, natural history, and risk stratification of Crohn’s disease; The microbiome in Crohn’s disease: Role in pathogenesis and role of microbiome replacement therapies; Endoscopic and radiographic assessment of Crohn’s disease; Intestinal and non-intestinal cancer risk in Crohn’s disease; Sexuality, fertility, and pregnancy in Crohn’s disease; Interdisciplinary management of perianal Crohn’s disease; Targeting specific immunologic pathways in human inflammatory bowel disease; Evolution of treatment paradigms in Crohn’s disease; Preventing and managing postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease; Where and how to use anti-TNF agents and anti-integrins in Crohn’s disease; Ustekinumab and anti-interleukin-23 agents in Crohn’s disease; Update on therapeutic drug monitoring in Crohn’s disease; and Janus kinase antagonists and other novel small molecules for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. Readers will come away from this issue armed with the information they need to improve management of this disease as well as patient outcomes.

Together with Consulting Editor, Dr. Alan Buchman, Dr. Scott Lee has put together a state-of-the-art issue of Gastroenterology Clinics devoted to Ulcerative Colitis (UC). He has selected expert authors to contribute clinical reviews that provide the latest clinical findings and recommendations. Articles are devoted to the following topics: Epidemiology and pathogenesis of UC; Making initial diagnosis of UC and ruling out other diseases that mimic UC; Assessing severity of disease; Initial medical treatment of UC; Treatment of UC with steroids; Biologic therapy in UC; Non-biologic immune suppression in UC; Microbiome and fecal transplant in UC; Health maintenance in UC, including bone density scan, vaccination recommendations, cancer screening; Women's issues and UC; Risk of colon cancer and recommended surveillance strategies in UC patients; Surgical management of UC, indications and outcomes from colectomy; and Management of J-pouches. Readers will come away with the latest clinical recommendations they need to improve outcomes in patients with UC.

In this issue of Gastroenterology Clinics, guest editor Dr. Marla Dubinsky brings her considerable expertise to the topic of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Pediatric patients with IBD become adult patients with IBD, making it imperative that children receive early, effective intervention to optimize their growth and development, minimize disease complications, and support patients on their journey from childhood to adulthood. In this issue, top experts provide up-to-date information that helps provide an evidence-based approach for each patient. Contains 11 practice-oriented topics including optimizing the transition and transfer of care in pediatric IBD; building a self-management toolkit for pediatric IBD patients; choosing the right therapy at the right time for pediatric IBD: does sequence matter?; the state of clinical trials in pediatric IBD; the role of diet in pediatric IBD; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews on pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

In this issue of Gastroenterology Clinics, guest editor Dr. Sunanda V. Kane brings her considerable expertise to the topic of Medical and Surgical Management of Crohn’s Disease. Approximately 3 million people worldwide suffer with Crohn’s Disease, and this issue provides a thorough review of current treatment and management strategies in various patient populations. Topics include fecal microbiota transplant, microbiome-targeting diet, anti-TNF therapy in pediatric IBD patients, and many more. Contains 13 practice-oriented topics including mimics of Crohn’s; newer therapies for Crohn’s disease; diet and nutrition in Crohn’s disease; pediatric management of Crohn’s disease; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews of medical and surgical management of Crohn’s disease, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

The Guest Editors for this issue have assembled top experts to discuss only those most challenging aspects of diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Emphasis is on comparing treatment paradigms, current and future biologics agents, safety profile of therapeutics, and novel diagnostic and prognostic tools for IBD. Articles are also devoted to pregnancy and IBD, IBD in children, and post-operative management of IBD.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is reviewed extensively in this important Surgical Clinics of North America issue. Articles include: Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Historical Perspective, Epidemiology and Risk Factors; Diagnostic Modalities for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Serologic Markers and Endoscopy; Diagnostic Modalities for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Radiologic Imaging; Medical Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Crohn's Disease of the Foregut and Small Intestine; Crohn's Disease of the Colon, Rectum and Anus; Indications and Options for Surgery in Ulcerative Colitis; Challenges in the Medical and Surgical Management of Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Extraintestinal Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Colorectal Neoplasia and Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Nutritional Support of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patient; Psychosocial Support of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patient; Genetics and Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease; and more!

SERIES OVERVIEW: The Oxford American Pocket Notes are a series of ultra-concise, small-format books for healthcare professionals on topics related to the diagnosis, treatment and management of various medical conditions. Each title typically features an outline of key points, guidelines and tools such as patient assessments and treatment algorithms, for a specific area of medical diagnosis and/or management. Highly practical in format, content and style, the Pocket Notes serve as a quick, easily accessible point-of-care reference for busy practitioners. In effect, they are miniature versions of the Oxford American Medical Library and Oxford American Handbooks in Medicine, capturing the key essentials needed for appropriate assessment and treatment. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a gastrointestinal condition which causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. This disease affects an estimated one million Americans, usually in the forms of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). These two diseases have similar symptoms and are often confused for one another. Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, often spreading deep into the layers of affected tissues, but ulcerative colitis usually affects only the innermost lining (mucosa) of the large intestine and rectum. IBD patients suffer from severe diarrhea and abdominal pain, and may experience other complications, such as arthritis and kidney stones, that affect the body beyond the intestinal tract. The Oxford American Pocket Notes: Biologics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a practical guide to the safe administration of biological agents to treat inflammatory gastrointestinal illnesses. This ultra-concise and practical volume focuses on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocking therapy (TNF blocker), an important new class of biologic therapy indicated for the treatment of several rheumatic and other auto-immune disorders, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This uniquely compact and affordable book features evidence-based discussion and guidelines on the mechanism of action, dosing, administration and safety considerations for the biologic agents approved to treat CD and UC, thus providing practicing physicians with easily accessible tools and insights on the use of these drugs in a daily practice setting. Culled from the pages of Handbook of Biological Therapy, this portable guide is a valuable resource for gastroenterologists, primary care physicians and other healthcare providers involved in the management of these chronic but treatable diseases.