Adalimumab in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

So Yoon Choi; Ben Kang

doi:10.3389/fped.2022.852580

Adalimumab in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Front Pediatr. 2022 Apr 13:10:852580. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.852580. eCollection 2022.

Authors

So Yoon Choi¹, Ben Kang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
² Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.

Abstract

The introduction of biological agents with strong anti-inflammatory action, such as antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents, has changed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment strategy and goals, and has contributed significantly to improve the long-term prognosis of patients. Moreover, several biological agents are being used or researched in pediatric populations. However, only two biological agents, infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADL), are currently approved for children and adolescents. In pediatric IBD, there are limitations and burdens associated with facilitating mucosal healing (MH) when utilizing these two biological agents. ADL is effective in both naïve patients and those with previous experience with biologics. Beyond clinical remission, this drug is also effective for MH and histological remission. The use of therapeutic drug monitoring to further enhance the effectiveness of ADL treatment can be expected to reduce treatment failure of ADL and pave the way for appropriate treatment in the treat-to-target era. This review paper focuses on ADL, examine studies conducted in children, and determine the role this agent plays against pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Keywords: Crohn's disease; adalimumab; biologics; child; inflammatory bowel disease; ulcerative colitis.

Publication types

Review