title: Management of refractory inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: One of the most challenging aspects of the management of inflammatory bowel disease is the high frequency of incomplete or absent response to medical therapy. Although many patients may be truly refractory to medical therapy, a lack of response may indicate several possibilities, including incorrect diagnosis, progression of disease extent, intestinal complication, superinfection, underdosing of therapy, monotherapy instead of combination therapy, or medication intolerance. This article provides a practical general approach to refractory inflammatory bowel disease patients encountered in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Solem
authors.forename: Edward V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Loftus
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D017211:Treatment Failure