From theory to practice: a Belgian consensus on minimal monitoring strategies for patients with IBD treated with advanced therapies
| Journal | Volume 89 - 2026 |
| Issue | Fasc.2 - Original articles |
| Author(s) | M. Truyens 1 2, A. Cremer 3, A. Jauregui-Amezaga 4 5, B. Verstockt 6 7, J. Sabino 6 7, L. Pouillon 8, T. Lobatón 1 2, the BIRD group 9 |
| Full article |
 PAGES 315-323 VIEW FREE PDF |
| DOI | 10.51821/89.2.14879 |
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Affiliations: (1) Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
(2) Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium (3) Department of Gastroenterology, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium (4) Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium (5) Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics (LEMP), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium (6) Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (7) Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Centre for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (8) Department of Gastroenterology, Imelda Hospital, Bonheiden, Belgium (9) The BIRD group: Annelies Verreth, Astrid De Zutter, Barbara Willandt, Beatrijs Strubbe Brecht Hens, Catherine Reenaers, Christophe Claessens, Claire Liefferinckx, Clara Thienpont, Clémence Vuckovic, Cléo Croonen, Deborah Jans, Elisabeth Macken, Evelien Humblet, Evi van Dyck, Filip Baert, Harald Peeters, Isha Delaleeuwe, Jean-François Rahier, Judith Wellens, Lara Crape, Liv Vandermeulen, Marc Ferrante, Matthias Lenfant, Michaël Somers, Nele Deprez, Olivier Dewit, Pauline Lemmens, Peter Bossuyt, Severine Vermeire, Sophie Dewit, Sophie Vieujean, Steven Van Outryve, Veerle Mattens, Guy Lambrecht, Leila Amininejad, Stefan Delan, Jeroen Geldof |
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Background and study aims: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic conditions requiring lifelong management, often involving advanced therapies. To harmonize the current heterogeneity in monitoring practices we developed a Belgian Standard of Care (SOC) guidance for patients with IBD treated with these advanced therapies. Methods: A multistep approach was adopted. First, a core team of IBD clinicians conducted a national survey to evaluate current practices and identify gaps. Next, a SOC guidance document was drafted and reviewed by multiple stakeholders, including physicians and IBD nurses from the Belgian IBD Research and Development (BIRD) group and patient organizations. Feedback was then incorporated to develop a consensus-based framework tailored to current Belgian clinical practices. Results: This SOC guidance outlines minimal follow-up requirements across treatment phases, emphasizing clinical, biochemical, endoscopic and cross-sectional assessments, while also discussing additional relevant outcomes such as quality of life. Conclusions: The SOC guidance document offers a comprehensive, consensus-based framework to homogenize the monitoring of patients with IBD receiving advanced therapies. By standardizing monitoring practices, it aims to enhance quality of care, safety and long-term outcomes, ensuring alignment with international standards while addressing specific national requirements and availabilities. Keywords: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, standard of care. |
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© Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica. PMID 42417635 |