August 18, 2017 - As studies show a continued rise in the number of people living with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, a Nacogdoches gastroenterologist is raising awareness of effective treatment options that may help patients achieve remission.
"There are an estimated 70,000 new cases of IBD cases diagnosed in the United States each year," Dr. Carl Jones at Nacogdoches G.I. Consultants said. "The good news is there’s also been an increase in effective treatments options. Oral medications don’t work for some patients with severe conditions, so we offer infusion therapy as an alternative.”
During infusion therapy, medication is administered intravenously. Traditionally this treatment was used only in hospitals, but infusion therapy now can be administered as an in-office treatment.
“With in-office infusion therapy, our patients receive their treatment in a convenient, familiar environment,” Dr. Jones said. “I think patients feel more comfortable undergoing the treatment here, knowing they’re under the supervision of a trusted team that really understands their condition and their situation.”
According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, an estimated 1.6 million Americans live with IBD, and an estimated 80,000 of those patients are children. While there are differences between Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, both illnesses are marked by an abnormal response by the body’s immune system. In IBD patients, the immune system mistakes beneficial cells and bacteria for harmful foreign substances, causing inflammation in parts of the gastrointestinal tract. This can lead to symptoms that may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, bloody stool, fever and unintended weight loss.
“IBD symptoms can be different from person to person,” Dr. Jones said. “They can be mild or severe and they can change over time. Patients may go into remission for a period and then have flare ups. In some cases people develop complications that require urgent medical care. If you have any of the symptoms, please have an open, honest discussion with your doctor about it. Diagnosis is the first step to effective treatment and management.”
Recent scientific advances have led to a greater understanding of the causes of IBD and to an increase in effective treatment options. Although treatment is tailored to individual patients based on a variety of factors, medication is usually the first therapeutic option.
“Sometimes we have to try different medications before finding the one that works best,” Dr. Jones said. “And sometimes a patient’s condition may be so severe that oral medication just doesn’t work. In many cases, state-of-the-art infusion therapy can significantly reduce symptoms and help patients maintain remission.”
Patients who would like to know more about infusion therapy or who want to schedule an exam to screen for IBD can call 936-569-2000 to schedule an appointment at Nacogdoches G.I. Consultants. Nacogdoches G.I. Consultants has recently relocated to a new office at 522 Russell Boulevard. Please visit NacGIConsultants.com to learn more.
