New Crohn’s Disease Guidelines Bypass Conventional Treatment for Advanced Therapy

While conventional first-line therapies have fewer side effects and are less expensive, they seldom heal the digestive tract lining.

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In a shift in standard practice, leading gastroenterologists are recommending that doctors start Crohn’s disease patients on the most powerful drugs first—rather than wait—arguing that first trying cheaper, older medications wastes time while their intestines deteriorate.

The new American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) clinical guidelines allow patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease to bypass conventional therapies such as steroids and jump directly to advanced treatments, including biologics.

Why the Change?

Conventional first-line therapies, such as corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and immunomodulators, offer lower side-effect risk and are less costly. However, they rarely heal the inner lining of the digestive tract, meaning the disease could continue to damage tissue and progress even if patients experience remission.