TNF alpha antibodies have clearly improved the outcome of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Adalimumab is the first fully human, monoclonal TNF alpha antibody, which is administered subcutaneously. Since April 2012 adalimumab is approved for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in patients who have not responded despite a full and adequate course of therapy with a corticosteroid and an immunosuppressant or who are intolerant to or have medical contraindications for such therapies. Adalimumab can induce and maintain clinical remission and mucosal healing compared to placebo in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, can reduce the rate of ulcerative colitis related hospitalisations and improve health-related quality of life. The response can be observed after two weeks of treatment. The safety profile of adalimumab is comparable to those of other TNF alpha inhibitors. Studies on the treatment of ulcerative colitis with adalimumab did not reveal new safety aspects. The present consensus report by the Working Group Inflammatory Bowel Diseases of the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology presents the existing evidence of adalimumab for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and is aimed to assist as code of its practice.
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