Tests after starting biologics

[nogutsnoglory]

What tests and how long after starting a biologic are used to see if mucosal healing is occurring?

I know my next visit will include blood tests but how long till they will order another colonoscopy, MRI or SBFT? I'm sure every doctor is different but wondering what people's experiences are.

 

[rygon]

I have blood tests a few days before each infusion to ensure I have no virus' and such, but they do check my inflammation markers + iron, vit D etc.

I have recently had a one off test to see if I have any Remicade anti-bodies to ensure Im not building up a barrier to the infusions.

Since being on it (2 years) I have had a sigmoidoscopy at the start to see if I was getting any better, and just had a colonoscopy this week to see if there is any signs of the disease still

 

[nogutsnoglory]

How long after starting the meds did you have a sigmoidoscopy?

 

[rygon]

It was about 3 or 4 months

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Thanks. I just had a colonoscopy, it will be interesting to see if they make me have one to see if its working.

 

[Starlight]

When I first started remicade in 2006 they told me I'd have another colonoscopy after the 5th or 6th infusion to see how things were healing, but they never did and since I was doing better I didn't mention it. My next colonoscopy wasnt till 2010, they told me they didn't realize how long it had been since my last and would have done it sooner if they did. I don't think it's like a set thing you have to be scoped again after x amount of infusions. Its probably more of a doctors preference thing.

 

[Clash]

My son had been on Remicade for 9 months when they did a colonoscopy but it was only due to him experiencing symptoms. The Ped GI he sees is not the GI that did the initial colonoscopy so since he was having issues his GI wanted to scope and do an MRE.

The GI initially said there would be a point after Remicade that he would test MRE or scope to see where we stood but he gave the impression it would be a year or longer.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

It seems doctors handle this very differently. I personally would hope they wait a few months because some of these meds take a few months to make a clinical impact.

 

[Clash]

I think the only reaso they would scope or MRE after only a few months would be due to lingering symptoms. Now we do have lab work every infusion and fecal calprotectin(gi every few months as well.