Crohn's is not a 6-week disease: lifelong management of mild to moderate Crohn's disease

Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2004 Jul:10 Suppl 2:S2-10. doi: 10.1097/00054725-200407002-00002.

Abstract

Crohn's disease is an idiopathic, chronic inflammatory disorder of the digestive tract with heterogeneous clinical presentations. Crohn's is currently not a curable disease, and patients are faced with a lifetime of recurrent disease flare-ups and remissions. Management strategies for Crohn's must therefore be targeted toward lifelong management, taking into consideration not only the short-term but also the long-term aspects of the disease. With this in mind, here we review the classifications and natural history of Crohn's disease and discuss possible predictive factors for the disease evolution in a patient. Here we also evaluate the current preferable treatment practices, based on scientifically valid research and collective clinical experience, for the management of mild to moderate Crohn's disease.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Aminosalicylic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Budesonide / therapeutic use
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Crohn Disease / classification
  • Crohn Disease / therapy*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Patient Compliance
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Quality of Life
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Aminosalicylic Acids
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Budesonide