Liver Biopsy is a medical procedure that removes a small sample of liver tissue for microscopic examination. It is commonly used in hepatology to clarify the cause, severity, or stage of liver disease. The sample is evaluated by pathology to look for inflammation, scarring, fat, infection, or abnormal cells.
Prednisone is a synthetic glucocorticoid (steroid) medication that reduces inflammation and modifies immune activity. It is commonly used in many medical specialties, including gastroenterology and hepatology. In digestive diseases, it is often used to control immune-driven injury in the bowel or liver.
Budesonide is a corticosteroid (glucocorticoid) medication that reduces inflammation. It is designed to act more “locally” in certain tissues while limiting whole-body (systemic) exposure compared with some other steroids. In gastroenterology, it is commonly used for inflammatory bowel and immune-mediated conditions affecting the intestine and, in selected cases, the liver. It also exists in non-GI forms (inhaled or nasal) for airway and nasal inflammation.
Ustekinumab is a prescription biologic medication used to treat certain immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. It is a monoclonal antibody, meaning it is a lab-made protein designed to target specific immune pathways. In gastroenterology, it is commonly used for inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is also used in dermatology and rheumatology for conditions such as psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
Vedolizumab is a biologic medication used to treat certain inflammatory bowel diseases. It is a targeted antibody that helps reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is most commonly used in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Clinicians use it when ongoing intestinal inflammation causes symptoms, complications, or poor quality of life.
Adalimumab is a biologic medicine that reduces inflammation by targeting a specific immune signal. It is a monoclonal antibody that blocks tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). It is commonly used for chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In gastroenterology, it is discussed most often for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Infliximab is a biologic medication that targets tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a key signal in inflammation. It is given most commonly by intravenous (IV) infusion in supervised clinical settings. In gastroenterology, it is widely used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is also used in several non-gastrointestinal immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Azathioprine is an immunosuppressant medication that reduces overactive immune responses. It is commonly used as a long-term “maintenance” therapy in immune-mediated diseases. In gastroenterology, it is most often discussed in inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune liver conditions. It is taken by mouth and typically works gradually rather than immediately.
Mesalamine is an anti-inflammatory medication used in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is also called 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). It is most commonly used to treat ulcerative colitis, especially mild to moderate disease. It comes in oral and rectal formulations designed to deliver medication to the intestinal lining.
Rifaximin is a rifamycin-derived antibiotic that acts primarily inside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is minimally absorbed into the bloodstream, so most of its activity is “luminal” (within the gut lumen). Clinicians most often use it in hepatology and gastroenterology for specific bowel- and liver-related conditions. It is prescribed as an oral medication rather than given by injection.