[Crohn disease--principle of longitudinal therapy planning with early surgical indications]

Because of its unknown etiology the treatment of Crohn's disease is of a symptomatic nature. Therapeutic decisions mostly revolve around hour one can obtain the best quality of life for the patient. An active inflammatory flare-up is normally treated with steroids; there is no known remission maintenance therapy thereafter. In all other cases a surgical treatment option has to be considered, in particular with steroid dependency, refractory disease and the presence of complications. Deficiencies after surgery must be assessed. 5-Aminosalicylic acid helps in maintaining postoperative remission maintenance.