Dear colleagues,
We shift gears from discussing GI hospitalists to focusing on the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The introduction of anti-TNFs brought about a paradigm shift in IBD management. With the ability to measure drug and antibody levels, we are also able to alter dose and timing to increase the efficacy of these medications. Some experts have extended this reactive drug monitoring approach to a more proactive method with the expectation that this may prevent loss of efficacy and development of adverse events. Dr. Loren G. Rabinowitz and colleagues and Dr. Hans Herfarth describe these two approaches to anti-TNF management in IBD, drawing from the current data and their own experiences. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences by email (ginews@gastro.org).
Dr. Gyanprakash A. Ketwaroo
Gyanprakash A. Ketwaroo, MD, MSc, is an assistant professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston. He is an associate editor for GI & Hepatology News.
