（5）治療と薬剤―消化器系炎症性腸疾患における内科治療―Up to Date―

抄録

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is defined as ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The number of patients with IBD is continuously increasing, with over 200,000 cases of UC and 70,000 cases of CD observed in a 2014 statistical analysis. The mechanisms underlying IBD inflammation remain unclear; however, previous studies have reported that a genetic predisposition to the disease exists. These disease-susceptibility genes, changes in the gut microbiota, and an overreaction to dietary antigens are presumed to cause an uncontrolled immune response, leading to intestinal inflammation. Therefore, drugs for the treatment of IBD are classical anti-inflammatory agents, and presently, new immunological drugs, that have been developed from the perspective of treating IBD, are used in clinical practice. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) have developed guidelines for the treatment of IBD in Japan. Appropriate treatment for IBD may vary depending on the activity, extent of inflammation, and presence of complications. In this article, we will discuss the basic concepts of UC and CD as well as up-to-date information on medical treatment strategies in Japan.