Video 1 of 4 – HOW does “Entyvio” treat Crohn’s Disease &/or Ulcerative Colitis?
This is Video 1 of 4 from my March 29, 2016 interview with GLOBAL Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) EXPERT, Dr. Mark L. Chapman, from the IBD Center at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Chapman is an IBD EXPERT in every sense of the word as he is ONE (1) of only 2 or 3 still-practicing gastroenterologists who were trained by the illustrious Dr. Burrill Bernard Crohn whose advancements in gastroenterology enabled him to identify the disease which bears his name.
In this video Dr. Chapman explains the science behind how Entyvio works as a Biologic drug to treat Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. More specifically, Dr. Chapman explains Entyvio’s mechanism as being a “lymphocyte trafficking blocker” placing it in a different class of Biologics than the other available Biologic drugs (i.e., Remicade, Humira, Cimzia and Simponi) which are all anti-TNF activity suppressors. Dr. Chapman also explains how Entyvio is the result of improvements to the drug, “Tysabri,” which left Crohn’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis patients vulnerable to a dormant, but potentially fatal, brain disease. As the IMPROVED VERSION, Entyvio thankfully no longer presents this horrific brain disease risk for IBD patients. However, Entyvio’s popularity is nevertheless plagued by the mere potential of activating such a catastrophic brain disease even though the drug is no longer capable of doing so.
Video 2 of 4 – How Doctors are REALLY using Entyvio to treat Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
This is Video 2 of 4 from my March 29, 2016 interview with Dr. Mark L. Chapman from the IBD Center at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City.
In this frank Entyvio discussion, Dr. Chapman goes into detail about WHEN he and his colleagues use Entyvio (and some are even using it as a First Line Biologic for IBD), HOW LONG they use Entyvio and when they use it in DOUBLE THERAPY along with immunosuppressant drugs. In a truly genuine manner, Dr. Chapman addresses my contention (and frustration) that different doctors around the world seem to utilize different IBD treatment approaches regarding Biologics like Entyvio thus leaving Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis patients wondering whether they are receiving these drugs in the appropriate circumstances, for the appropriate duration and in the most effective combinations in circumstances of Double (or Dual) Therapy.
Dr. Chapman compassionately explains how this apparent lack of a universal IBD treatment methodology has more to do with doctors being trained to follow rigid algorithmic treatment formulas when they should also be incorporating “common sense” implying that successfully treating perplexing autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis requires BOTH a proven scientific methodology and an artistic “feel.” From my perspective as his patient for 30+ years, I find fascinating Dr. Chapman’s humble substitution of the phrase “common sense” for “hands-on patient experience” as he’s so far exceeded the 10,000 Hour Rule in his 50+ years practicing advanced gastroenterology in New York City successfully treating the most complex Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis cases.
Dr. Chapman further explains how a health insurance company’s algorithmic IBD treatment recommendations for a Biologic drug like Entyvio affects even the most erudite and experienced of these doctors using different IBD treatment methodologies due to the unusually high cost of using biologics and immunosuppressants to treat IBD. While Dr. Chapman never says so, I get the feeling these health insurance companies often look to him (and to the few other IBD doctors with similar world-class experience successfully treating the most difficult cases of Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Indeterminate Colitis) when, for example, Entyvio finally yields success after the recommended 14 weeks or in Double Therapy along with specific immunosuppressants. Dr. Chapman also explains why Entyvio could work for an IBD patient non-responsive or intolerant to any of the anti-TNF Biologic drugs since Entyvio is in a different class of IBD Biologics as it operates differently than the anti-TNFs and targets different mechanisms of the immune system.
In Videos 3 and 4 Dr. Chapman answers many of the Entyvio/Biologics patient questions submitted to me via social media prior to the Interview. I hope to edit and post Videos 3 and 4 by early next week. Thank you for reading and watching.
Please leave any constructive comments. Thank you.
When my health permits and my life isn’t so dedicated to taking care of my Mom, my overall goal is to add content from my 2-4 interviews with Dr. Chapman to a patient-driven IBD Documentary produced by an IBD Charity I founded called, Crohn’s Disease Warrior Patrol, or “The CDWP.” Dr. Chapman would then become the film’s “Medical Expert” and his “contributions” will live on forever educating Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis patients.