What’s new about inflammatory bowel diseases in 2011

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders of the intestine with increasing incidence in Europe, Northern America and asiatic countries such as china. Thus, we have putted together these topic highlight articles to give insights into the current understanding of IBD pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment.

FROM THE EDITOR

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders of the intestine with increasing incidence in Europe, Northern America and Asiatic countries such as china. Thus, we have putted together these topic highlight articles to give insights into the current understanding of IBD pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment. The articles[1-6] aim at informing both expert gastroenterologists and physicians who are not very familiar with IBD. We are focusing mainly on topics that have undergone basic changes within the last decade. In view of diagnostic, modern high resolution ultrasound has become an important instrument for clinical monitoring of disease activity in some countries. Detection of intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) and the therapeutic algorithm of IEN management in ulcerative colitis have undergone changes. Furthermore, the change of paradigm in Crohn`s disease surgery towards a very cautious extent of bowel resection combined with minimal invasive (endoscopic) surgery has ameliorated the outcome. In this context, some new data about the postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease and its management are pointed out. Even in this field, prognostic parameters and data about the adequate therapeutic option in the case of recurrence are lacking. Thus, we give overview concerning the main issues in surgery and disease recurrence as well as current treatment options. To get insights into IBD pathogenesis, we inform about the mucosal interface and the immune system also highlighting the link between inflammation and carcinogenesis.