For Crohn's disease, treatments include medications such as mesalamine, corticosteroids, antibiotics and immunsuppresive drugs. Mesalamine and corticosteroids are primarily used to control the inflammation, relieving the symptoms of Crohn's disease. Antibiotics are used most often after surgery, such as an ileum resection, in order to prevent flare ups caused by introduced bacteria. Immunosuppresives are used to block the inflammation, however they have side effects including nausea, vomiting, liver problems and may cause inflammation in the pancreas, which can cause additional problems. A more recent drug therapy is the use of infliximab. Infliximab is an antibody which blocks TNF (tumor necrosis factor) which is one of the primary causes of inflammation in Crohn's disease. Finally, surgery can also be used to treat Crohn's disease when pharmaceuticals fail to control the symptoms, however this only relieves symptoms for a short time.
In Ulcerative Colitis, immunosuppresants and anti-inflammatory drugs are also used, for the same reasons as previously stated for Crohn's disease. The drug Infliximab is also approved for treatment in UC for its ability to block TNF. Often times infliximabs side effects out weigh its benefits for UC patients, as it may cause increased risk for cancer as well as susceptibility to disease such as tuberculosis. Since UC is limited to the colon, many patients undergo laproscopic surgery to remove the troublesome areas. Unlike in Crohn's disease, removal of the colon completely cures the disease.
References:
Mayo Clinic Diseases & Treatments, 2008
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