Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Clinical Gastroenterology

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a pathological condition of the colon and the small intestine. It is a complex multifactorial disease arising due to a genetic predisposition to the disease and interaction with environmental stimuli. Dietary patterns, alterations in the gut microbiome and loss of integrity of the intestinal epithelium can contribute to IBD. The common forms of inflammatory bowel disease are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis is restricted to the colon and rectum, whereas Crohn’s disease affects any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Microscopically, the former extends only to the mucosa while the latter affects the full thickness of the bowel wall. Both these diseases have extra-intestinal manifestations such as arthritis, liver problems, eye problems, etc. Anemia is a common complication of both these diseases. This book explores all the important aspects of clinical gastroenterology in the present day scenario. It includes some of the vital pieces of work being conducted across the world, on inflammatory bowel disease. It is a resource guide for experts as well as students.