Biological therapy is one of the types of immunotherapy, as it is a therapeutic method that relies on the process of stimulating the immune system to fight diseases. It treats many diseases and some types of cancer. It also treats rheumatism, Behçet’s disease, and other diseases. Doctors within Al Mousa Health Hospital choose biological therapy when other types of treatments fail and are unable to do the treatment. Among the effectiveness of this treatment is working to prevent the immune system from attacking the body’s joints.
What is biological therapy?
Biological treatment In general, it means biological immunotherapy, and its goal is to treat pathological conditions that target the immune system. It is relied upon in many medical fields, including the treatment of cancerous tumors, the treatment of rheumatic diseases, and other immune diseases.
It also relies on biological compounds for immune diseases, which are directed antibody compounds, genetically modified immune preparations, and also radioactive dyes, in order to activate or inhibit the immune system, thus resulting in a good process of combating cancer cells or reducing the rate of inflammation caused by certain diseases.
Biological treatment has given effective results in treating the immune system, and it is used alone or used in conjunction with other treatments. As for the effectiveness of treatment for immune diseases, it depends on the type of medication relied upon to treat the disease and also according to the patient’s health condition, so it differs from one patient to another.
It is important to consult the treating physician if changes or problems appear when using the treatment because it may cause side effects Book your consultation at Oncology center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.
What are the challenges facing biological treatment?
Biological treatments are effective treatments that have proven good results in improving patients’ conditions, but this does not prevent the existence of challenges and obstacles facing biological treatment, including the high financial cost of this type of treatment, as there are many disease cases that require agencies to obtain treatment insurance.
Another challenge facing the use of biological treatment is the presence of a high rate of spread of microbial infections, which causes the doctor to avoid relying on biological treatment, including cases of latent tuberculosis as well as hepatitis C infections. Therefore, we always see careful investigation and careful examinations from doctors before directing patients towards biological treatment.
What diseases can be treated using biological therapy?
Biological therapy is immunotherapy that is used to treat a group of diseases, including the following:
First, treatment of rheumatic diseases
- Arthritis diseases Rheumatoid.
- Lupus erythematosus diseases.
- Ulcerative bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Secondly, cancerous diseases
- Breast cancer.
- Lung cancer diseases.
- Prostate cancer.
- Colon cancer andسرطان المستقيم.
- Kidney cancer.
- Kidney cancer.
- Skin cancer.
Third, autoimmune diseases
- Ulcerative inflammatory bowel disease
- Hepatitis C disease is hepatitis B.
- Lupus erythematosus.
- Hepatitis C disease is hepatitis C.
Fourth, other diseases
- Types of immune blood diseases.
- Psoriasis.
- Neuroinflammatory bowel disease.
- Bronchial asthma.
Who are the people who can use biological therapy?
Many diseases are treated using biological therapy, including the following:
- People with rheumatic diseases, as it treats severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis, as it reduces pain and swelling and slows down the process of joint damage.
- Lupus disease.
- People with psoriasis, where treatment controls bothersome symptoms.
- People with Behçet's disease.
- People with Crohn's disease, which affects the digestive system, causing atrophy in the intestinal walls.
- People with types of lymphoma.
- People with cancer, including multiple myeloma and types of breast cancer.
- Infected people Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome It relieves annoying symptoms and improves the quality of life of these people.
Who are the people who cannot use biological treatment?
Biological treatments are successful, but there is a group of patients who cannot use biological treatment, as pregnant women are prohibited from undergoing treatment with this type of treatment, and it is also prohibited from using it for breastfeeding women, as well as those with infections, including respiratory infections and hepatitis C.
Those who have an infection are prohibited from relying on biological treatment because it causes an increase in the risk of infection, and it also negatively affects liver function, which results in a worsening of symptoms. In addition, this type of treatment is prohibited in the event of a large percentage of the spread of microbial infections because in this case the doctor is not free to rely on biological treatment in treating the diseases that the person is afflicted with, and one of those infections is latent tuberculosis.
What are the methods of biological treatment?
Biological treatment depends on some methods, depending on the specific biological treatment. The following is an explanation of those methods:
- Biological treatment is through intravenous injections or medications taken orally or by injection.
- Patients receive treatment in a clinic, hospital or home.
- The supportive care team is responsible for monitoring patients' response to treatment.
- The treatment plan is modified as necessary in order to manage the side effects of treatment and obtain the best result.
- Oral biological treatments are in the form of oral preparations, but must be done safely under the care of a specialist doctor.
Harmful effects of biological treatment
There are many side effects caused by biological treatment, depending on the type of drug and the type of disease, including the following:
- Feeling tired.
- Experiencing a state of loss of desire to eat.
- Mouth infections.
- Exposure to diarrhea.
- Feeling a headache.
- Facing the problem of hair loss.
- Liver and kidney cells are exposed to damage.
- Feeling muscle pain.
- Organs are exposed to damage, including the liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, or intestines.
- Suffering from flu-like symptoms, including fever and chills.
- Having a skin rash.
- Mouth ulcers.
- Feeling short of breath.
- خفقان القلب.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Feeling pain in the chest area.
- Colitis.
- Respiratory infection occurs.
- Feeling a burning, itching, or swelling at the injection site.
- Suffering from digestive system problems.
- Exposure to nausea and vomiting.
- Feeling pain in the joints.
- A decrease in the number of white blood cells.
- A decrease in the level of platelets
- Increased risk of high blood pressure.
- Exposure to heart problems.
- Weight gain due to fluid retention and appetite changes.
- Feeling discomfort or pain during injection or intravenous infusion.
Biological treatment of the colon
Biological treatment for ulcerative colitis consists of the use of biological medications that are composed of antibodies that work to reduce intestinal inflammation that accompanies ulcerative colon. These medications are usually used for adults who suffer from moderate or severe symptoms of ulcerative colon. Doctors resort to this in the event that other treatments fail. It is used for children from 6 to 17 years old. The following are the advantages and disadvantages of biological treatment for ulcerative colon:
المميزات
- It is classified as effective in identifying cells and proteins that cause inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis.
- The patient can use other medications in addition to biological treatment for ulcerative colitis, with the exception of immunosuppressants and cortisone.
- It has been revealed to be an effective treatment that leaves a long-lasting effect.
- Using this type of treatment reduces the incidence of ulcerative colitis attacks, and even reduces the symptoms that accompany them.
- Treatment doses are used at frequent intervals, making it easier for the patient to adhere to taking the medication.
العيوب
- Using injection therapy has one of its disadvantages because it may cause pain, burning, or discomfort.
- Biological treatment requires waiting weeks and using it regularly, in order to be able to obtain its effectiveness and effect in treating the disease.
- Pathological conditions require trying a variety of biological treatment drugs in order to obtain the appropriate treatment for the patient's condition and type of disease.
- It is an expensive treatment when compared to other types of treatments for ulcerative colitis.
- There are rare cases in which the effectiveness of biological treatment for ulcerative colitis is limited over time or with long-term use of the treatment.
Frequently asked questions
When is biological treatment used?
There are cases in which doctors resort to using biological treatment, in which other treatments do not give a good therapeutic result, in many different diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, rheumatic diseases, and others.
What is the difference between chemotherapy and biological treatment?
Chemotherapy depends on chemical drugs and affects skin and hair cells as well as the digestive system, and treats cancer tumors and other diseases. Biological treatment depends on biological compounds represented by targeted antibodies or immune proteins, improves the response of the immune system, treats cancerous tumors, rheumatism and immune diseases, and causes side effects, including allergic reactions, but its effects are less severe than chemotherapy.
What does biological therapy do in the body?
Biological therapy has become an effective treatment for chronic diseases. It is immunotherapy or biological therapy that stimulates the body's immune system in order to fight infection and get rid of diseases. It relies on substances derived from the body's immune system. During the disease's attack on the body, the body produces response rate substances in small quantities, and biological therapy destroys cancer cells and slows their growth.
Biological therapy is an effective treatment based on living organisms and cells. It is a treatment that works very precisely with the immune system to treat autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune joint diseases. It also stimulates the immune system to detect cancer cells and work to attack them. This type of treatment provides the longest period of protection for the body. This type of treatment is used within Al Mousa Health Hospital, which always works based on the latest treatment techniques and with the help of the best specialized medical team.
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