In addition to its well defined role as a key regulator of calcium and bone metabolism, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (calcitriol) has been established as a potent modulator of immune cell function. Still, because of the hypercalcemic toxicity occurring after systemic application of the parent compound, its clinical application as an immunosuppressant has been hampered. Recently, we described 22-ene-25-oxa-vitamin D (ZK156979) as a representative of a novel class of low calcemic vitamin D analogs with well preserved immunosuppressive activity in vitro. Here, in vivo colitis was induced by applying a rectal enema of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) to male BALB/c mice, and calcitriol (0.2 g/kg) or ZK156979 (0

Although intravenous iron supplementation is recommended in IBD patients, current German practice still relies on oral therapy, even in severe anaemia. The high incidence of severe anaemia in this cohort reflects inadequate iron replacement and status monitoring. While the proportion of IBD patients with inadequately treated anaemia/iron deficiency is unknown, greater awareness of existing guidelines for iron deficiency management in IBD patients appears necessary.

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ZK156979 is a member of novel vitamin D analogues revealing prominent immunomodulatory and suppressive characteristics with distinctive inhibition of Th1-cytokines whereas the Th2 compartment is augmented, thus providing a considerable therapeutic potential in T-cell -mediated diseases.

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