Disability in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
It is surprising how little is known about disability in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There are sparse data on IBD-related disability compared with other chronic inflammatory diseases such…
GASTROENTEROLOGY
Patient-Specific Approach to Combination Versus Monotherapy with the Use of Antitumor Necrosis Factor α Agents for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
There is little debate that monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNFα) represent important tools in our armamentarium in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the beneficial…
Optimizing Immunomodulators and Anti-TNF Agents in the Therapy of Crohn Disease
Randomized controlled trials support the use of the thiopurines and anti-tumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNF) monoclonal antibodies (mAb’s) in the treatment of Crohn disease (CD). Nonetheless, lack of response, loss…
Evaluating Pouch Problems
Introduction and Classification of Complications of Ileal Pouch Approximately 20% to 30% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) eventually require surgery for failure of medical therapy or development of neoplasia….
The Evaluation and Treatment of Crohn Perianal Fistulae: EUA, EUS, MRI, and Other Imaging Modalities
Perianal fistula, defined as an abnormal communication between the anal canal or lower rectum and the perianal or perineal skin, is among the more morbid manifestations of Crohn disease (CD)….
Detecting and Treating Clostridium DifficileInfections in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobe described as early as 1935 as being a member of the intestinal flora in neonates. It was not until 1978 that it was first…
Health Maintenance in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patient
Recent data suggest that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients do not receive preventive services with the same rigor as other medical patients, partly because their gastroenterologist is often the main…
The Role of Capsule Endoscopy in Evaluating Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a generic term used to describe Crohn disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD type unclassified (IBDU), formerly known as indeterminate colitis. By definition, only…
Evaluation for Postoperative Recurrence of Crohn Disease
Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, affecting the entire gastrointestinal tract, that follows a relapsing and remitting course. Approximately two-thirds of patients with Crohn disease undergo a resective surgery…
Chromoendoscopy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Patients with longstanding, extensive ulcerative colitis are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. The risk is lower than previously reported, but colonoscopic surveillance is recommended still to detect intraepithelial…
