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The Evolving Evidence for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Monoclonal Antibodies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (S Hanauer, Section Editor))
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Biological medications are effective in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but adverse events, cost, and loss of response make their use challenging. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) allows clinicians to more safely, effectively, and efficiently use medications. The purpose of this article is to review and summarize the most recent literature pertaining to TDM in IBD.

Recent Findings

Measurement of biological drug trough levels predicts ongoing patient response and can be used to titrate the medication to be more effective and efficient. Antibodies against the medications predict loss of response and adverse events. Using both parameters can predict response to subsequent biologicals. Newer biologicals show similar characteristics to those more commonly used. Management protocols using drug and antibody levels optimize medication use and may be cost-effective.

Summary

Recent evidence suggests benefit to TDM of biologicals in IBD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mount Sinai Hospital Centre for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, University of Toronto, Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Health Complex, 437-600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X5, Canada

    Christopher Sheasgreen & Geoffrey C. Nguyen

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  1. Christopher Sheasgreen
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  2. Geoffrey C. Nguyen
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Correspondence to Geoffrey C. Nguyen.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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Sheasgreen, C., Nguyen, G.C. The Evolving Evidence for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Monoclonal Antibodies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 19, 19 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-017-0559-8

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