Past Time for Doctors to Lessen their Dependence on Corticosteroids in the Treatment of IBD

Abstract

Corticosteroids and antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) are mainstays of treatment of acutely active IBD and while anti-TNF therapy is indicated for maintenance therapy, chronic corticosteroid therapy is associated with known significant risks. Nonetheless, chronic or recurrent corticosteroid treatment in IBD is common. In this edition of the journal Lewis et al. use Medicaid and Medicare databases to contrast adverse outcomes in persons with IBD and either corticosteroid or anti-TNF use. Compared to high dose corticosteroid use, anti TNF therapy is associated with less risk for death in Crohn's disease but no statistical difference in death outcomes in ulcerative colitis. The adverse effects of corticosteroids are well known yet vigilance is still required to ensure their use is limited to the short term.