[Conservative therapy of inflammatory bowel diseases]

In the past years there have been many exciting developments in IBD management. New therapies and concepts of remission induction and of maintenance have been developed. This paper is intending to bring together the basic topics in patient-management in the various medical fields that represent the most accepted ways of therapies. The introduction deals with the most common aspects of Crohn's disease and that of the ulcerative colitis. It describes the treatment of ulcerative colitis according to the different groups of patients and the degree of activity. First it analyses the possible ways leading to the remission, then the prevention of relapse, lastly the other therapeutic options which have not been given any evidence of so far. The main standards of Crohn's disease therapy are presented on the bases of the small bowel Crohn's disease. After discussing the essential principles in treating the complications it carries on the treating of the large bowel Crohn's disease and then it is completed with the consideration of prevention of the relapse and the supportive therapeutic possibilities.