The diagnosis and treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory diseases resulting from an inappropriate immune response, in genetically susceptible individuals, to microbial antigens of commensal microorganisms. This inappropriate response is promoted by certain environmental factors. Both diseases manifest themselves primarily in the gastrointestinal tract yet can, in principle, affect all of the organ systems of the body. The purpose of this review article is to heighten awareness of these diseases among physicians whose primary clinical activities lie outside gastroenterology.

This is not a systematic review nor a meta-analysis. It is mainly based on the guidelines of national (DGVS and DACED) and international (AGA, ACG, BSG, CCFA, ECCO) specialist societies and expert groups, as well as on important reviews and a limited number of pivotal randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicenter studies.

More than 300 000 people in Germany suffer from chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. The incidence and prevalence of IBD have risen in the past 10 years, particularly for Crohn's disease. Every fifth IBD patient is a child or adolescent. A better understanding of key events in the inflammatory cascade, e.g., the activation and polarization of T cells by TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-12/18 through dendritic cells, has led in recent years to the development of many new immune-modulating and biological treatments. Advanced endoscopic techniques and contrast-enhanced tomographic imaging techniques have expanded diagnostic capabilities.

A cure is still not possible, yet the opportunities for diagnosis and treatment have improved significantly. Early diagnosis is important so that patients can be referred onward for further diagnostic evaluation and appropriate treatment without delay.