Treating Crohn’s disease: at “deep” remission and exploring beyond

A new treatment target includes mucosal healing as well as clinical remission

In the late 1990s, controlled trials confirmed the efficacy of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antibodies in treating active Crohn’s disease, signalling a major breakthrough in treatment. TNF-α monoclonal antibody therapy has since been shown to lead to significant improvements in quality of life and symptom control and a decrease in the need for surgery and prolonged hospitalisation for patients with Crohn’s disease.1 The development of such an effective form of treatment has led not only to a change in the paradigm for treating Crohn’s disease, but also to an increasing awareness of its limitations.