The emerging role of vedolizumab in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

摘要

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. Despite current treatments that include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, antimetabolites and TNF antagonists, many patients fail to respond to conventional medical management and undergo colectomy. Thus, new approaches to treatment are needed. This review discusses the emerging role of vedolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks lymphocyte trafficking to the gut, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.