PATTERNS OF STEROID USE AMONG A REAL-WORLD NATIONAL COHORT OF VETERANS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Abstract

Corticosteroids are effective in the acute improvement of symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but are not recommended as maintenance therapy due to lack of long-term efficacy and significant adverse effects. Long term goals for medical management in IBD include achieving steroid-free remission. Biologics such as the anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha Infliximab (IFX) are used to achieve clinical remission, however patterns of continued steroid use among patients on maintenance IFX have not been fully studied. The aim of this study is to evaluate patterns of concomitant steroid use in individuals with IBD on maintenance IFX.