| [ Summary ] |
Crohn's disease (CD) is now recognized as an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any intestinal region as well as extraintestinal sites. Because its etiology is as yet uncertain, the diagnosis of CD is based on clinical manifestations and pathologic abnormalities. Although there is no specific therapy, nutritional managements for CD such as TPN and EN are generally used as the primary therapy according to the guidelines of the Research Committee of Inflammatory Bowel Disease of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan.
The discussion presented here of the medical man-agement of CD reviews drugs such as corticosteroids, sulfasalazine, aminosalicylates and immunosuppressive agents, as well as antibiotics, and nutritional therapy and other modalities that may hold promise for future use. |