ISSN: 2462-3547

ABSTRACT

Measuring drug levels and drug antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Carlos Hidalgo-Carmona, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud. San Pedro Garza García, NL, México
Manuel Martínez-Vázquez, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Zambrano Hellion, Escuela Nacional de Medicina Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, N.L., México

The applications of biologic therapy have revolutionized the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), evolving from palliative and symptomatic treatment, to healing and structural and physiologic harm prevention. We have carried out a literature review on the application of biological serum level measures (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, vedolizumab, and ustekinumab) in patients with IBD can reduce the disease burden, reduce costs, and have better clinical outcomes. In this article, we discuss the use, advantages, and disadvantages of therapeutic monitoring and treatment with biological agents for this group of conditions. There is not yet enough evidence to support the implementation of therapeutic drug monitoring as routine in the clinical practice. The studies done to date are not conclusive about the results and benefits of this treatment, which, in addition, has the disadvantage of its high cost, which makes it inaccessible for the vast majority of the population. We believe that in future can be standard of treatment in some special population as, for example, Crohn an severe activity of IBD.

Keywords: Therapeutic drug monitoring. Crohn disease. Ulcerative colitis. Tumoral necrosis factor. Trough concentration. Antibodies to drug. Biologic therapy.

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