In chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (CED) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, the body's own immune system attacks the large intestine (ulcerative colitis) or the entire digestive tract (Crohn's disease) for unknown reasons. CEDs thus belong to the group of autoimmune diseases. There is no cure yet, but with the therapies available today, CEDs are generally well treatable.
therapy options
If proven standard therapies such as locally applied and systemically administered steroids and immunosuppressants are not sufficient, so-called biologics are now used. These are monoclonal antibodies that specifically intervene in the functions of the immune system. In ulcerative colitis, they are used to inhibit the messenger substance tumour necrosis factor (TNF) or the cell membrane protein integrin, which is important for inflammatory processes. In Crohn's disease, the messenger substances interleukin 12 and interleukin 23 are also targets of therapy. However, in addition to their desired effect of alleviating inflammation in the digestive tract, these antibodies also have other complex effects that need to be considered in the prescription. Whether and which biologics should be used is therefore always an individual risk-benefit assessment, which depends crucially on the profound knowledge of the treating physician about the respective advantages and disadvantages of these new drugs.
Specialists at MEDIZINICUM
At MEDIZINICUM Hamburg, patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis benefit from the double expertise of the Medical Director, Dr. Ahmadi-Simab. As a specialist in rheumatology and immunology, he has long been familiar with the targeted treatment of inflammations with monoclonal antibodies. These innovative active ingredients have revolutionized rheumatism therapy in recent years, but also require a great deal of experience on the part of the treating physicians due to their complex effect and side effect profile. As a specialist in gastroenterology, Ahmadi-Simab also masters the endoscopic diagnosis and therapy of intestinal diseases. This very rare double qualification and the associated wealth of experience is of direct benefit especially to patients with autoimmune diseases of the digestive tract ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, autoimmune hepatitis or autoimmune pancreatitis.
