Crohn's Disease: General characteristics and treatment with Adalimumabe biopharmaceutical

Abstract

Crohn's Disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gastrointestinal system. The etiology is not fully understood, however, genetic, immunological, microbiological and environmental factors are related to its genesis. The most common manifestations of this disease are diarrhea, abdominal pain, ulcers and fistulas. In the absence of adequate treatment it can evolve into extra intestinal complications and is also an important risk factor for colon and rectal cancer. The treatment of the disease is palliative and there is no cure for the disease, being considered only the period of remission of symptoms, as a good prognosis. The biopharmaceutical, Adalimumabe, produced by recombinant DNA technology has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of this disease, as it prevents the action of TNF-α, a cytokine involved in inflammation and is abundant in individuals with CD. Although Adalimumabe has good results, its use leads to side effects that can be mild or fatal, such as the activation of tuberculosis.