[Differentiated therapy in Crohn's disease]

Causal therapy of Crohn's disease up to now cannot be achieved due to the unknown etiology. However, randomized multicenter cooperative trials have demonstrated that adrenocorticoids and sulfasalazine are the most efficient basic therapeutics. In the acute attack additional supportive measures like hyperalimentation, transfusions or substitution of vitamins may become necessary. In contrast to former times a maintenance treatment is no longer justified. About 60% of all patients with Crohn's disease have to be operated because of complications of their disease. The knowledge of absolute and relative indications for surgery in Crohn's disease facilitates the decision. Therapy in Crohn's disease has to be differentiated in relation to severity of the disease and disease location.