title: [Pharmacologic therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases: hopes, disappointments].
abstract: Because the etiology of inflammatory bowel diseases is unclear, no causative therapy is available. However, pathophysiology of the disease offers a lot of possibilities to disrupt the inflammatory cascade that maintains the inflammatory process. The aim of every therapy is to maintain remission as long as possible and to amend the natural course of the disease. Pharmacotherapy includes 5-Aminosalicylates, glucocorticoids, immunosupressants (methotrexate, azathioprine) as well as specific pharmacologic interventions like monoclonal antibodies directed against TNF-alpha (Infliximab). Important supportive tools are available to improve symptoms like diarrhea and pain. Dietetic treatment and surgical procedures represent important alternatives or supplement pharmacotherapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin, 1. Medizinische Klinik, Campus Kiel des Universitätsklinikums Schleswig-Holstein.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikolaus
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Fölsch
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents