Treat the patient or treat the disease?

Stephen B. Hanauer*, Joseph B. Kirsner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our therapeutic goals for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are evolving. Until the last decade the goals were primarily the treatment of symptoms. Regulatory approval for ulcerative colitis therapies have been based on short-term improvements in clinical indices and, most recently, the ability to heal the colonic mucosa, whereas approval for Crohn's disease therapies have been based on reductions in the CDAI (Crohn's Disease Activity Index). Over the past decade there has been increasing evidence in favor of more 'objective' measures of biologic disease activity including biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and mucosal healing in Crohn's disease and the histologic resolution of active inflammation in ulcerative colitis. The objective changes have provided expanded therapeutic goals based on longer-term maintenance therapies with the potential to modify the chronic disease behavior and to reduce pharmacoeconomic costs (reductions in hospitalizations, surgeries and neoplasia).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)400-403
Number of pages4
JournalDigestive Diseases
Volume30
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2012

Keywords

  • Crohn's disease
  • Therapeutic goals
  • Ulcerative colitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gastroenterology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Treat the patient or treat the disease?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this