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When patients with IBD begin to lose good response to Remicade - article

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/5/2010 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Journal Watch Gastroenterology published an article today that discusses what should be done for patients that find that Remicade is losing its effectiveness. The article can be found here:

http://gastroenterology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2010/604/1?q=etoc_jwgastro

Not sure if one has to register or not to read the article. If those of you that are interested cannot read the article I will come back and summarize it for you the best I can.

Posted 6/5/2010 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
That's really interesting, thanks.

I wonder if a GI could check for Humira HACA's? Also, I wouldn't mind having the Humira levels in me checked but I doubt my GI would do it.

Given that 6 of the 7 people who had a Remicade holiday had HACA's (which I presume make the Remicade useless?), that is further evidence that people on biologics should stay on a regular schedule.
Posted 6/5/2010 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure if this article will help answer your question, but it might.: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/490671

I believe that the HACA test is for antibodies to Remicade only.

Posted 6/5/2010 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, good article. Thanks for posting it!

So, it sounds like, if remicade is detected in sub-therapeutic levels, you should increase the dosage and/or frequency of remicade. If HACA is detected, patient should be switched to a different anti-tnf agent. If the patient is showing active disease, but has adequate (therapeutic) levels of remicade, then, the patient should be switched to a completely different medication that is not an anti-tnf agent.

That's good to know. I live in dread of remicade not working for my hubby. This at least tells me what maybe the best course of action should that dreaded event occur.

Thanks so much.

PV
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