CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ANTI-TNF USE IN THE ERA OF NEW BIOLOGICAL AGENTS IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic immune-mediated diseases that present a relapsing and remitting course and requires long-term treatment. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy has changed the management of the disease by reducing the need for hospitalizations, surgeries and improving patient´s quality of life.

Objective: The aim of this review is to discuss the role of anti-TNF agents in IBD, highlighting the situations where its use as first-line therapy would be appropriate.