Significant scientific progress has been made in recent years in the aetiopathogenesis of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), that has changed or will change in the future the diagnostic and therapeutic approach in these diseases. The relevance of classical conventional IBD therapies has been critically re-evaluated under criteria of evidence-based medicine approaches. On the other hand, new therapeutic options have emerged. These include modern immunomodulators, biologics, probiotics, worm eggs and extracorporeal therapies. The clinical relevance of these new modalities is often difficult to assess for physicians who do not work frequently with IBD patients.

This book, the proceedings of the Falk Symposium No.153 on 'Immunoregulation in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Current Understanding and Innovation', held May 67, 2006 in Berlin, Germany, critically discusses established and emerging new concepts in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD, reflecting the recent advancements in the aetiopathogenesis of these diseases. Controversial problems, such as the optimal therapeutic strategy (step-up versus top-down), therapy-associated side-effects and optimal control and selection of IBD therapies, are addressed by an internationally-renowned team of authors. The book will be essential reading for both basic scientists and clinicians.

Interdisciplinary symposium bringing together basic science and clinical applications Up-to-date research findings at the highest scientific level

Inhalt
Advances in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.- Innate immune responses in inflammatory bowel disease.- The adaptive immune responses in inflammatory bowel disease.- Relevance of bacteria in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.- Taking a toll on MD-2 in inflammatory bowel disease.- Optimization in therapy through improved disease classification?.- Classification of inflammatory bowel disease can only be based on the clinical phenotype.- Use of serology and genetics to differentiate inflammatory bowel disease phenotypes.- Do biomarkers help to optimize therapy in inflammatory bowel disease?.- Role of pharmacogenetics in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases.- Conventional immunomodulator therapy.- State-of-the-art therapy in accordance with guidelines.- Increased risk of morbidity associated with immunomodulatory treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.- Can immunomodulatory therapy be improved by metabolite measurement and combination therapy?.- Relevance of biologics.- Top-down therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.- 'step-up' versus 'top-down' strategies in inflammatory bowel disease what do we know in 2006?.- Importance of mucosal healing in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.- State-of-the-Art Lecture: Distinct antibacterial-defensin deficiencies in small intestinal and colonic Crohn's disease.- New therapeutic approaches (Part I).- Oligonucleotides new therapeutic approaches.- Probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease.- Helminth ova therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.- Retarded release phosphatidylcholine: a new therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis.- Topical steroids rectal application.- New therapeutic approaches (Part II).- Apheresis.- The evolving understanding and therapy ofCrohn's disease: innate immunity and sargramostim (GM-CSF).- Immunosuppression with tacrolimus, everolimus and sirolimus.- T-cell modulating antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease.