title: Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for Crohn's disease, integrated with formal consensus of experts in Japan.
abstract: Crohn's disease is a disorder of unknown etiology and complicated pathogenesis. A substantial amount of evidence has accumulated recently and has been applied to clinical practice. The present guidelines were developed based on recent evidence and the formal consensus of experts relevant to this disease. Here we provide an overview of these guidelines, as follows.                                        Target disease: Crohn's disease                                                           Users: Clinical practitioners in internal medicine, surgery, gastroenterology, and general practice                                                           Purpose: To provide appropriate clinical indicators to practitioners                                                           Scope of clinical indicators: Concept of Crohn's disease, epidemiology, classifications, diagnosis, treatment, follow up, and special situations                                                           Intervention: Diagnosis (interview, physical examination, clinical laboratory tests, imaging, and pathology) and treatment (lifestyle guidance, drug therapy, nutritional therapy, surgery, etc.)                                                           Outcome assessment: Attenuation of symptoms, induction and maintenance of remission, imaging findings, quality of life (QOL), prevention of complications and harm of therapy                                                           Methods for developing these guidelines: Described in the text                                                           Basis of recommendations: Integration of evidence level and consensus of experts                                                           Cost-benefit analysis: Not implemented                                                           Evaluation of effectiveness: Yet to be confirmed                                                           Status of guidelines: Updated version of the first Guidelines published in 2010                                                           Publication sources: Printed publication available and electronic information in preparation                                                           Patient information: Not available                                                           Date of publication: October 2011                                                   These guidelines were intended primarily to be used by practitioners in Japan, and the goal of these guidelines is to improve the outcomes of patients with Crohn's disease.
authors.affiliation: Ofuna Chuo Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Katsuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hibi
mesh_terms: D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan