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For patients diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (CD), there seems to be an opportune window in which early intervention may improve outcomes of the disease. Dr. Edward Loftus explains details of a multicenter collaborative study which found that patients with CD, for 2 years or less, are more likely to achieve a complete response to vedolizumab (Entyvio), than patients with longer disease duration.
Researchers considered several factors to evaluate the relation between disease duration and vedolizumab effectiveness –
- Clinical remission, defined as absence of symptoms.
- Corticosteroid-free remission (CSFR), defined as tapering off steroids completely, achieving clinical remission, and no repeat steroid prescription within 4 weeks of tapering.
- Endoscopic remission, defined as the absence of ulcers and/or erosions in CD.
What are the implications for patient care?
The findings of the study suggest that patients who’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease should begin treatment with an anti-TNF agent or vedolizumab as soon as possible.
Meet other people, talking about Crohn’s disease, on Mayo Clinic Connect – join the conversation, share experiences, ask questions, and discover your support network. Here are some discussions you might like to follow...
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@rose999, you may also wish to follow the Ostomy group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/ostomy/
Your and your husband's experience with colostomy would be a welcome addition.
Please define the “complete response” that patients with -2 years CD will achieve by taking the drug in question.
@hopeseeker22, generally a complete response to treatment for patients living with Crohn's disease is defined as achieving clinical remission, which involves a significant reduction or absence of symptoms, and ideally, endoscopic or mucosal healing, meaning the intestinal lining shows no signs of inflammation or ulcers.
I do thank you for tackling a complicated word: remission. I’ve heard people say they are in remission, which I’ve taken to me, as you imply I believe, that their nagging symptoms have abated. Perhaps for a week, or a month, or even a lifetime; and even that is not a cure but a careful “ministering” to the disease in such ways as to mitigate or eliminate its foul symptoms. Of course the remission type does rely on a treatment of some sort; or is it self-limiting? Emery Haley, Ph.D., (medically reviewed by Adelina Hung, M.D.) tolerates a belief in 5 Crohn’s remissions: Clinical, Biochemical, Endoscopic, Histologic, and Functional remission. Surely the differences would escape me. But, similar to Mayo Connect, one can join (no cost) MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam. Some 160,000 IBD and CD sufferers, and hear their stories (adding your own) about what it’s like living these diseases. And perhaps even learn about how achieved remission. Couldn’t hurt. Thanks.
T, CD since ‘85
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