This book is the proceedings of the Falk Symposium No. 122 on -Inflammatory Bowel Disease - A Clinical Case Approach to Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment-, held in Bologna, Italy, on June 22-23, 2001, and deals with some major issues concerning Genetics of IBD, Pediatrics in IBD, Early vs Late IBD, Bacteria and Gut Inflammation, Refractory CD, Fistulizing CD, Refractory Distal Colitis, and Complications of Ileal-Pouch Anastomosis. The main aim of the meeting was to highlight the value of an integrated clinical approach and the importance of clinical research in developing innovative...

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease remain a great therapeutic challenge to the medical community. In recent years knowledge about the pathogenesis of these diseases has progressed rapidly but the cause of the diseases remains completely unknown. It has become clear that dysregulation of the mucosal immune system is the basis for the chronic evolution of the diseases in a genetically susceptible population. Exciting new therapeutic approaches have been attempted in the last couple of years and cytokine and anti-cytokine treatments in particular seem very promising, especially in...