Intest Res.  2022 Jan;20(1):3-10. 10.5217/ir.2020.00156.

Management of inflammatory bowel disease in the COVID-19 era

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many unpredictable changes have occurred in the medical field. Risk of COVID-19 does not seem to increase in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) considering based on current reports. Current medications for IBD do not increase this risk; on the contrary, some of these might be used as therapeutics against COVID-19 and are under clinical trial. Unless the patients have confirmed COVID-19 and severe pneumonia or a high oxygen demand, medical treatment should be continued during the pandemic, except for the use of high-dose corticosteroids. Adherence to general recommendations such as social distancing, wearing facial masks, and vaccination, especially for pneumococcal infections and influenza, is also required. Patients with COVID-19 need to be withhold immunomodulators or biologics for at least 2 weeks and treated based on both IBD and COVID-19 severity. Prevention of IBD relapse caused by sudden medication interruption is important because negative outcomes associated with disease flare up, such as corticosteroid use or hospitalization, are much riskier than medications. The outpatient clinic and infusion center for biologics need to be reserved safe spaces, and endoscopy or surgery should be considered in urgent cases only.

Keyword

Inflammatory bowel disease; Coronavirus; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2

Cited by  7 articles

KASID Guidance for Clinical Practice Management of Adult Inflammatory Bowel Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Expert Consensus Statement
Yong Eun Park, Yoo Jin Lee, Ji Young Chang, Hyun Joo Song, Duk Hwan Kim, Young Joo Yang, Byung Chang Kim, Jae Gon Lee, Hee Chan Yang, Miyoung Choi, Seong-Eun Kim, Seung-Jae Myung, The Clinical Practice Guideline Committee of the K Diseases
Korean J Gastroenterol. 2021;78(2):105-116.    doi: 10.4166/kjg.2021.112.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination for Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Expert Consensus Statements by KASID
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Korean J Gastroenterol. 2021;78(2):117-128.    doi: 10.4166/kjg.2021.110.

Clinical Course of COVID-19 in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Korea: a KASID Multicenter Study
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J Korean Med Sci. 2021;36(48):e336.    doi: 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e336.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease: expert consensus statement by KASID
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Intest Res. 2022;20(2):171-183.    doi: 10.5217/ir.2021.00098.

Update on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: what clinicians need to know
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Physician education can minimize inappropriate steroid use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: the ACTION study
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Intest Res. 2022;20(4):452-463.    doi: 10.5217/ir.2021.00125.

Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases guidance for clinical practice of adult inflammatory bowel disease during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: expert consensus statements
Yong Eun Park, Yoo Jin Lee, Ji Young Chang, Hyun Joo Song, Duk Hwan Kim, Young Joo Yang, Byung Chang Kim, Jae Gon Lee, Hee Chan Yang, Miyoung Choi, Seong-Eun Kim, Seung-Jae Myung
Intest Res. 2022;20(4):431-444.    doi: 10.5217/ir.2021.00111.


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