Review article: immunosuppressive therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

Refractory inflammatory bowel disease can be treated by surgery or using nutritional supplementation or replacement. Immunosuppressive agents may also play a role for refractory disease; they have gained widespread acceptance, due not only to trials that demonstrate efficacy but also to the realization that these side-effects are minor compared to those associated with long-term, high-dose corticosteroids. To date, 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine remain the drugs of choice based upon extensive clinical experience, but both methotrexate and cyclosporin are promising immunosuppressants for otherwise refractory disease.