Gastroenterology

Biological Therapy

For Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

How your immune system works:
The immune system protects the body by responding to “invaders” like bacteria, viruses, and other foreign matter that enter your body by producing antibodies and putting them into action to fight off the “invaders”.  In diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, your immune system can attack healthy tissues in your body and cause inflammation and damage.  If these diseases are untreated, it can cause permanent damage to the body’s bones, cartilage and tissue, and intestines.

How can Biologic therapy help?Medical treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis has two main goals:  achieving remission (the absence of symptoms), and preventing “flare-ups”.

Biologics are genetically engineered medications that interfere with the body’s inflammatory response acting selectively to reduce symptoms by decreasing inflammation effectively.

Biologic therapies can be given as a drip via intravenous infusion and as subcutaneous injections.

Infusions take about two hours to administer and are usually given every 8 weeks depending on the patient’s therapy.

Subcutaneous injections may be administered at home by the patient or family member or in the clinic by healthcare professional.