Commentary

摘要

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a spectrum of chronic inflammatory disorders whose precise aetiology remains elusive, although genetic, immunological and psychic factors are known to play a pathogenic role. Standard medical therapy includes corticosteroid in the acute phase, mesalazine or immunomodulants to maintain remission and biological agents for refractory and/or severe cases. Since the precise causation of IBD remains unclear, treatment is currently aimed at treating symptoms or, at best, general rather than specific pathophysiological changes, which accounts for the sometimes mediocre and unsatisfactory results often observed in clinical practice#