Expert Review
United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW) 2014
CHAPTER 1: Patient Confidence in Biologic IBD Therapies Identified as a Factor in Long-Term Disease Control
John Marshall, MD MSc FRCPC AGAF
Professor of Medicine McMaster University
Member, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute
Chief of Clinical Service for Gastroenterology, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario
Vienna – Biologics, such as tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), offer an unprecedented level of efficacy in patients with moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but relative benefit in the individual patient is difficult to predict. Patient confidence in the choice of biologic appears to be a factor. Several sets of data presented at UEGW, including one looking specifically at patient acceptance of biologic treatment, suggest that patient perception of efficacy and safety has independent influence on disease control. In IBD, it has been proposed that a high rate of satisfaction with treatment leads to closer adherence, which, in turn, increases exposure to active therapy to improve the likelihood of sustained remissions. On this basis, it appears that differences among biologics, such as route of administration, have meaningful influences on long-term IBD benefit.
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