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Steroid Resistance (steroid + resistance)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Review article: steroid resistance in inflammatory bowel disease , mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2 2007
T. J. CREED
Summary Background Steroid resistance in inflammatory bowel disease presents a difficult clinical challenge. The advent of biological therapies coupled with an increasing understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease has provided new therapeutic options. Methods We review the available literature of the mechanisms behind steroid resistance. In addition, we outline some of the options available for treating those patients who fail to respond adequately to glucocorticoids. Results Approximately 30% of patients prescribed glucocorticoids will not achieve clinical remission. Many such patients are offered immunosuppressive or, recently, biological agents. However, these agents are ineffective in a large proportion of patients. Immunosuppressive agents only bring 40,60% of patients into remission, and biological agents typically induce remission in just 40% of patients. In this review, the possible explanations for glucocorticoid resistance are discussed. Recent evidence suggests that in many patients it is mediated by interleukin-2. Basiliximab, a biological agent that interrupts interleukin-2 signalling, has shown significant benefit in early clinical studies. Conclusions Patients who fail to respond to steroid therapy should have alternative agents introduced in a timely fashion. Steroid refractory inflammatory bowel disease remains a difficult condition to treat, but new therapies and managements are emerging. [source]

Oral tacrolimus long-term therapy in patients with Crohn's disease and steroid resistance

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2001
E. Ierardi
To report the results of a prospective, open-label, uncontrolled study in 13 patients affected by Crohn's disease with resistance to steroids. Methods: The patients were treated long-term with oral tacrolimus, aiming to both resolve acute attacks and maintain remission. Tacrolimus was administered at the dose of 0.1,0.2 mg.day/kg and adjusted in order to achieve levels of 5,10 ng/mL; only mesalazine was continued concomitantly. Steroids and total parenteral nutrition were tapered when appropriate. Results: Median treatment was 27.3 months. Only one patient dropped out due to adverse events. Crohn's disease activity index score significantly decreased after 6 months in 11 patients; for 1 year in nine of them, and 7 years in two of them. The inflammatory bowel disease life-quality questionnaire score significantly increased over the same periods. A marked drop in hospitalizations was recorded. In three out of six patients complete closure of fistulas occurred. Tacrolimus allowed total parenteral nutrition to be withdrawn in three out of five patients. Supplementation with low-dose steroids was required in five patients. Two patients underwent surgery. Conclusions: Tacrolimus therapy appears to be associated with both short- and long-term benefits, and may represent a therapeutic option in Crohn's disease when conventional therapies fail. This study encourages its use in controlled trials. [source]

Acute Cellular Rejection with CD20-Positive Lymphoid Clusters in Kidney Transplant Patients Following Lymphocyte Depletion

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4 2007
L. K. Kayler
Lymphoid clusters (LC) containing CD20-positive B cells in kidney allografts undergoing acute cellular rejection (ACR) have been identified in small studies as a prognostic factor for glucocorticoid resistance and graft loss. Allograft biopsies obtained during the first episode of ACR in 120 recipients were evaluated for LC, immunostained with CD20 antibody, and correlated with conventional histopathologic criteria, response to treatment and outcome. LC were found in 71 (59%) of the 120 biopsies. All contained CD20 positive B cells that accounted for 5,90% of the LC leukocyte content. The incidence of LC was highest in the patients who had no lymphoid depletion or had been treated with Thymoglobulin preconditioning (79% vs. 75%, respectively) compared to 37% in patients pretreated with Campath (p = 0.0001). Banff 1a/1b ACR were more frequent in the LC-positive than the LC-negative group (96% vs. 80%, respectively; p = 0.0051). With a posttransplant follow-up of 953 ± 430 days, no significant differences were detected between LC-postitive and LC-negative groups in time to ACR, steroid resistance, serum creatinine and graft loss. CD20+LC did not portend glucocorticoid resistance or worse short to medium term outcomes. CD20+LC may represent a heterogenous collection in which there may be a small still to be fully defined unfavorable subgroup. [source]