Adult study on mucosal healing and long term outcomes


Posted by: Patricia , Jan 20,2010,14:06  


In adults found to have complete mucosal healing after 1 year of treatment with immunomodulators (6-MP and MTX) and/or AntiTNF alpha meds (Remicade, Humira) this healing was predictive of long term improvement in disease progression (10 year followup).

For those who had complete mucosal healing after 1 year, they had significantly reduced incidences of surgery, hospitalization and development of complications like stricturing and fistulas.

In those with complete mucosal healing, relapse was signficantly delayed if therapy was discontinued.

Scheduled treatment with anti-TNF alpha meds appears to be more effective in achieving mucosal healing than episodic, on-demand, treatment.

The rate of relapse in patients treated with remicade and 6-mp who were in steroid-free remission for at least one year was 50% within 1 year of stopping remicade.

The rate of relapse in those patients on remicade and 6-mp with steroid-free remission _and_ had complete mucosal healing, normal labs and normal fecal calprotectin who discontinued remicade was very low - much lower than the first group.

Poor mucosal healing was found in patients treated with steroids. In 9% of patients ulceration worsened while on steroids despite clinical improvement in symptoms. 71% had no signs of mucosal healing.

this information summarized based on results reported at www.thecdwg.org

Replies:
Re: Adult study on mucosal healing and long term outcomes

Re : Adult study on mucosal healing and long term outcomes --- Patricia
Posted by: heather(uk) , Jan 21,2010,10:25 Top of Thread


Hi

I did read somewhere once of a study that showed that elemental feeding if it works for someone, promotes mucosal healing in the same way as the anti-TNF's and unlike steroids.
I have always pinned hopes on this as when you do the check lists of who will develop severe disease -similar to your post below then my son had a tendency to tick all the boxes!!!

It's great to read your findings.

Thanks

Heather

Re: Adult study on mucosal healing and long term outcomes

Re : Adult study on mucosal healing and long term outcomes --- Patricia
Posted by: MaryS , Jan 20,2010,21:18 Top of Thread


This is really good info too. Steroids in Nicole's case sucked for sure!! Great for quick symptom relief but no healing whatsoever and just added more insult to injury trying to wean off of them which was no walk in the park.

MaryS