Injection Therapy

What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

IBD is a chronic gastrointestinal condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are types of IBD. Without proper treatment, IBD damages the gastrointestinal tract, which may affect nutrient absorption and lead to other health complications.

Though the exact cause of IBD is still under investigation, the inflammatory condition develops due to a malfunction in the body’s immune system. In children and teens with IBD, their immune system attacks the tissue in the intestinal tract, causing the inflammation.

Treatments for IBD may include diet changes, nutritional supplements, and disease-specific medication to help control inflammation. To help their pediatric patients get more targeted treatment to keep their IBD in remission, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Dr. Erena Treskova offers injection therapy with biologics.

What is injection therapy?

Injection therapy is a more targeted approach to the treatment of IBD. Biologics are antibodies created in a lab that specifically target the proteins in the immune system that cause gastrointestinal inflammation.

For Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the practice uses Remicade® for injection therapy.

Is my child a good candidate for injection therapy?

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Dr. Erena Treskova conducts comprehensive evaluations and provides regular follow-up care for their pediatric patients with IBD.

There are few options of injectable medication for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Dr Treskova will discuss it with you during the visit once time comes.

Injection therapy with biologics can be recommended as an induction treatment for IBD inflammation, as well as for maintaining remission. Different types of  biologics exist such as Remicade, Humira, Xeljanz, Stelara, Simponi, etc. Great deal of research is in progress in regard to new biologics and biosimilars vs generics.

What happens during injection therapy?

After reviewing the details of your child’s disease during your consultation and obtaining insurance preauthorization the type of injection therapy will be determined. In general, The initial intravenous injection therapy takes place in the hospital. Intravenous infusions of the biologic that may take 2-4 hours.

Intramuscular injections are done at home under nursing supervision.

To learn more about injection therapy for the management of your child’s IBD, call Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Dr. Erena Treskova or use the online booking tool or portal access to schedule an appointment.