Central PA Medicine Fall 2017 - 24

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keep patients active, and minimize the impact
that Crohn's has on their day to day activities.
The need for bowel surgeries and lengthy
hospitalizations has been greatly reduced by the
availability of new treatments over the last 20
years. There are, of course, patients who have
more challenging disease that does not respond
well to treatments, or they may have side effects
to available treatments. It is most important
that patients and their gastroenterologists have
a strong and open relationship.
Does Crohn's present patients with
any limitations in their daily life?
The answer is largely dependent upon the
individual's medical history, lifestyle and severity
of disease but, in most cases, the answer is the
goal of treatment is that crohns affect patients
lives minimally. It is fairly common to see
patients with well controlled inflammation
but residual symptoms that are attributable
to overlapping irritable bowel syndrome. It
can sometimes be a lengthy process getting

Do you have any helpful tips to patients
who are new to this disease?
It is most important that you find a gastroenterologist with whom you are comfortable and can
develop a good working relationship. Crohn's is
Has the treatment of Crohn's changed a chronic disease that can be controlled and exist
in the last 5 years?
along with a fruitful and productive life with lots
The approach to Crohn's disease has changed of normal days but there will invariably be times
dramatically in the last 5 years. The former that patients may need help with interpreting
approach to Crohn's disease involved an "esca- and/or treating new symptoms and medication
lation" of treatment over time. The "escalation" side effects. Being able to connect with your
typically involved moving from pills to infusions. gastroenterologist is of utmost importance in
It is now much more commonplace to treat developing a successful treatment plan.
Crohn's upfront with anti-TNF therapy as we
know patients often do better when treated Lindsey Surace, MD is a graduate of Penn State
with anti-TNFs earlier in their disease course. Medical School. She completed residency and
In addition, new drug categories such as an- fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,
ti-IL 12/23 and anti-integrin drugs have been a Harvard affiliated hospital, before joining
approved for the treatment of Crohn's disease. Jackson and Siegelbaum, Harrisburg and Camp
Hill, in 2014.
to the point where Crohn's does not affect a
patient's daily life which, again, makes it quite
important that patients feel comfortable with
their gastroenterologists

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central PA Medicine Fall 2017