Immunomodulating Agents in Gastrointestinal Disease

This chapter discusses established agents in gastrointestinal disease and introduces newer agents that either are in early stages of clinical trials or are undergoing animal testing. The range of immunomodulating agents with therapeutic capability for gastrointestinal diseases is expanding. Future pharmacological and therapeutic strategies for inflammatory bowel disease may need to focus on the development of drugs capable of multiple mechanisms of action. Inflammatory Bowel Disease In 1980, a landmark study by Present and colleagues established the efficacy of 6MP with a 70% response rate in patients with steroid-refractory Crohn’s disease. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Little published experience exists regarding the use of tacrolimus in Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Evidence suggests that activated T cells are responsible for transplantation rejection episodes and likely participate in inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. The options for the treatment of various gastrointesinal diseases continue to expand.