Where are we going with ulcerative colitis management?

Selwyn Odes

Expert opinion on emerging drugs 2013 Mar

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Impressive progress has been made in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Corticosteroids are nowadays limited to short-term use. The mainstay of current therapy consists of the immunosuppressive drugs (largely thiopurine analogs) and the biologics, often in combination. The calcineurin inhibitors are still in use for acute severe colitis in many centers. However, gastroenterologists can now choose between calcineurin inhibitors and biologics for administration to patients with fulminant disease, although the criteria for selection are not yet resolved. Given the success rates of current therapies, it is obvious that new and better drug development is required if surgery is to disappear from the armamentarium of treatments.