Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is classically characterized by periods of remission and clinical relapse. In some patients disease may take an aggressive course that involves frequent relapses, continued active disease,…
Serologies have well-established roles in the diagnosis of a variety of immunologically driven diseases; rheumatologists rely on an alphabet soup of antibodies, hepatologists depend on serologic tests to diagnose primary…
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…
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….
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…
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…
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)….
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…
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…
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…
