Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects approximately 1.6 million people in the U.S. According to a report in Healio, this equates to about 1.3% of the adult population.
IBD can be described as an inflammatory bowel disease affecting the large intestine and rectum causing ulcers and inflammation along the inner lining of both organs.
Data analysis has shown that corticosteroids and other medications used as standard treatment did not have a significant effect on endoscopic or clinical outcomes.
Induction Therapy
Certain therapies may be used for induction and maintenance. Induction therapy is used for a brief period (six to eight weeks) to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in the digestive system by reducing inflammation.
For example, steroids effectively induce remission.
Corticosteroids, which are steroid hormones, are known to have adverse effects.
In summary, drugs taken for UC are called concomitant medications when they are taken along with other UC medications.
The purpose of concomitant medications is to minimize side effects and improve the efficiency of treatment.
The body’s immune response is reduced by using immunomodulators and lessening the possibility of clinical remission.
Dhruv Ahuja, MBBS at Indira Gandhi Hospital and her colleagues report that antidepressants and opiates may affect gastrointestinal transit and affect patient outcomes.
Professor Ahuja and colleagues analyzed data from ten phase 3 clinical trials of small molecule drugs and biologics which is a class of medications derived from living organisms.
The team’s analysis brought about clinical remission as well as endoscopic remission.
A total of 4,280 patients were given active intervention and 1,764 patients given placebo.
Adjustments were made for placebo and confounders which are variables that can influence an outcome.
The researchers did not observe any substantial effect on endoscopic or clinical outcomes as a result of concomitant use of corticosteroids.
However, the use of immunomodulators brought about a decrease in the probability of clinical remission.
In addition, there was no negative impact from serious adverse events or risk of infection.
Source: Healio
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