Challenge of treatment de-escalation in inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) encompass chronic conditions predominantly affecting young individuals and necessitate long-term, advanced treatments to manage disease burden and mitigate progressive tissue damage.1 Within this context, the matter of treatment discontinuation in patients who have achieved sustained remission, including those undergoing combination therapy, holds significant importance for both clinicians and patients. The primary considerations for potential treatment de-escalation or cessation include safety concerns, the financial implications of prolonged therapy and patients’ willingness or preference.