Inflammatory bowel disease comprises a group of idiopathic inflammatory intestinal disorders, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. It currently afflicts approximately 1 million Americans and has an annual incidence of 70,000 to 100,000 cases in the United States alone. Although the etiologic agents of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease remain elusive, we are still able to diagnose and treat these disorders effectively. Crohn's disease has no medical or surgical cure; however, total proctocolectomy is curative for ulcerative colitis. Effective treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease depends on a precise diagnosis and determination of the the extent and severity of disease. In this article, the current medical therapies available for treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease will be reviewed and the status of other investigative drugs will be assessed.
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