Millions of People’s Lives are Disrupted by Digestive and Gastrointestinal Problems, But When Do You Know If It’s Serious?

Millions of People’s Lives are Disrupted by Digestive and Gastrointestinal Problems, But When Do You Know If It’s Serious?

People can sometimes be hesitant to talk about their bowel movements with their doctors, but if you start to notice recurring urgency, abdominal pain, or canceling plans to avoid being stuck in an uncomfortable situation, you may want to speak up.

Approximately 1.6 million Americans have Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease (Crohn’s) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Crohn’s and UC can significantly impact patients’ quality of life. While they share some symptoms, each condition has distinct characteristics and treatment approaches.

1. Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by digestive tract inflammation. It can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and rectal bleeding. Crohn’s disease is known for its unpredictable flare-ups and periods of remission.

2. Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is another inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the colon and rectum. Unlike Crohn’s disease, which can involve any part of the digestive tract, ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, urgency to have a bowel movement, and fatigue. Like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis can also have periods of remission and flare-ups.

Treatment Approaches and Infusion Therapies

Treatment for Crohn’s and  UC varies depending on the severity of symptoms and the individual patient’s needs. While lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, and medications are often the first line of treatment, some patients may require infusion therapies to manage their conditions effectively.

Infusion Therapies Have Proven to Help

Infusion therapies have revolutionized the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s and UC. These therapies aim to reduce inflammation, control symptoms, and induce remission. Here are some commonly used infusion drugs for IBD:

  1. Entyvio (Vedolizumab): Entyvio is a gut-selective biologic therapy that targets the alpha4beta7 integrin, which plays a role in the migration of inflammatory cells to the gut. It is administered intravenously and has been shown to induce and maintain remission in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease [1]. Entyvio is administered as a 30 minute infusion on Week 0, Week 2, Week 6, then every eight weeks thereafter.

  2. Omvoh (mirikizumab-mrkz): Omvoh is a biologic medicine that targets a specific protein called IL-23P19, which is the protein in the body that plays a role in inflammation related to moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. It has shown to reduce inflammation in your gut. Omvoh is administered as an infusion once monthly for the first three doses, followed by home injections every eight weeks.

  3. Remicade (Infliximab): Remicade is a TNF inhibitor used to treat Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy in reducing inflammation and improving symptoms in patients with IBD [2]. Remicade is generally administered as a 2 hour infusion on Week 0, Week 2 and Week 6, then every eight  weeks thereafter.

  4. Skyrizi (Risankizumab): Skyrizi is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-23 (IL-23), a cytokine involved in the inflammatory response. Skyrizi is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn’s. Skyrizi is administered as an infusion once monthly for the first three doses, followed by home injections every eight weeks.

  5. Stelara (ustekinumab): Stelara is a human interleukin-12 and -23 antagonist indicated for the  treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn’s and UC. Stelara is administered as an initial intravenous infusion, followed by subcutaneous injections every 8 weeks thereafter.

Improvements in Symptoms

Infusion therapies such as Entyvio, Omvoh, Remicade, Skyrizi, and Stelara play a crucial role in managing inflammatory bowel diseases and have significantly improved symptoms and quality of life in patients with Crohn’s and UC. Studies have reported reductions in abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and fatigue following treatment with these medications [4,5]. By targeting specific inflammatory pathways, infusion therapies help control inflammation and promote mucosal healing in the digestive tract, leading to symptom relief and disease remission.

Patients should continue to have conversations about their bowel symptoms and any side effects from the infusion treatment with all their healthcare team (general practitioner, gastroenterologist and infusion therapy specialists) to determine the most appropriate treatment plan.