Nuevas perspectivas en aféresis terapéutica en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal crónica

Resumen

The term inflammatory bowel disease refers to a group of diseases characterized by chronic inflammation of different parts of the digestive tract of unknown etiology. Notable among this group are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, because of their potential severity and prevalence. The pathophysiology of these diseases seems to involve an exogenous antigen (probably of a bacterial component) that interacts with a susceptible host genetically predisposed to develop a persistent exaggerated immune response that attacks the digestive tract. The therapeutic options currently available are highly diverse. However many patients are still refractory or intolerant to classical medications and it is in this group of patients, particularly in corticodependant ulcerative colitis patients, that apheresis devices, especially granulocyte apheresis, have shown their best effects. It is still too soon to determine the place of these treatments in the therapeutic arsenal of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, randomized, sham-controlled, multicenter studies that will provide significant answers to these questions will soon be published.