| Theme |
Tips and up-to-date of the medical therapy for ulcerative colitis |
| Title |
Treatment with calcineurin inhibitors, tacrolimus and cyclosporin A, for ulcerative colitis |
| Author |
Minoru Matsuura |
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Hospital |
| Author |
Yusuke Honzawa |
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Hospital |
| Author |
Shuji Yamamoto |
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Hospital |
| Author |
Hiroshi Nakase |
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sapporo Medical University |
| [ Summary ] |
Several previous reports indicate that calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine, are useful as rescue therapy in patients with severe ulcerative colitis, especially those refractory to corticosteroids. Appropriate monitoring of trough levels of tacrolimus is essential for adjusting appropriate dosage and preventing adverse effects, and optimizing blood trough levels is important to achieve maximal therapeutic benefit with tacrolimus in patients with ulcerative colitis. However, further studies are required to determine the most appropriate dosage and method for administration of tacrolimus as induction therapy and selection of appropriate subjects to be treated with tacrolimus or biologics in the management of steroid-refractory severe ulcerative colitis. |