Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0654-1 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Drug persistence and need  for dose intensification to adalimumab therapy; the importance 
of therapeutic drug monitoring in inflammatory bowel diseases  
 
Version: 1 Date: 01 Jul 2017 
 
Reviewer:  Karmiris  Konstantinos  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
I feel that the authors have not adequately answered all my comments. Nothing is mentioned at 
least in the "Discussion" section about:  
 
(1) the well -desribed lim itation in the litterature of using ELISA for TDM measurments of sub -
cutaneously administered molecules although they admit this problem,  
 
(2) the pros and cons of other methods used (with more accurate results in certain occasions),  
 
(3) the critisism on using the term "trough levels" for TDM of sub -cutaneously administered 
molecules (the authors claim that they believe that despite lower variability, trough levels of a 
subcutaneous agent may reflect bioavailability of the drug without explaining how they support 
this view)   
 
Finally, they still insist on mentioning that LOR and need for steroid therapy were more frequent 
among patients with dose intensification although no scientific novelty can be raised from such 
observations.  
 
I believe that further revision at least in the "Discussion" section is needed.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the nec essary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess  any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any  stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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