Focus on Paediatric IBD and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) remains an incurable condition, posing significant challenges for both patients and healthcare providers. Achieving and maintaining remission is the primary objective, as flare-ups can worsen over time. For paediatric patients, these challenges are further compounded by their developing bodies and the long-term implications of their treatment plans.

Challenges in Paediatric IBD

Narrow Therapeutic Window: Paediatric patients face a narrow therapeutic window with biologic treatments, which are typically the last resort after other options have been exhausted.
Long-term Commitment: Unlike adults, children are usually not tapered off biologics, necessitating a prolonged commitment to these medications.
Balancing Drug Levels: Maintaining optimal drug levels is crucial; sub-therapeutic levels increase immunogenicity, while exceeding therapeutic levels can lead to heightened adverse effects.

The Value of Proactive Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Emerging research suggests that proactive TDM, with drug titration to a specific target trough concentration, can significantly enhance the efficacy of anti-TNF therapies. Closer proactive monitoring means there is a greater probability of staying in remission and delivers these benefits:

Improved Efficacy: Maintaining optimal drug levels improves clinical response and remission rates. Faster titration of dose-quicker remission
Cost-effectiveness: Enhanced drug efficacy reduces the need for additional treatments, thereby lowering overall costs.
Safety: Proactive TDM minimizes adverse effects by ensuring drug levels remain within the therapeutic window. – crucial for children pre peri and post puberty

Introducing ProciseDx™

BHR BIOSYNEX is pleased to introduce ProciseDx™, a revolutionary desktop analyser designed to facilitate rapid and reliable treatment decisions for IBD. Key features include:

Compact and Powerful: Weighing just 4.5 kg, ProciseDx™ provides lab-quality results in under five minutes.
Four Essential Assays: Infliximab, Adalimumab, Faecal Calprotectin and CRP, crucial for monitoring chronic IBD at the point of care.
User-friendly: Intuitive design for easy and self-administered stool sampling at home.
Advanced Technology: Utilises time-resolved fluorescence (TR-FRET) and Lumiphore® technology for lab-comparable sensitivity and specificity.
Efficient Operation: Internal controls eliminate the need for calibration or maintenance. The system includes a 7-inch colour touch screen and supports HL7 or USB data transfer.