Medical therapy in stricturing inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract

Both, Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) may be complicated by the occurrence of strictures. They appear in 50% of patients after 20 years of CD evolution, but are less common in UC. The management of stricturing inflammatory bowel diseases has long been based on surgery and steroid therapy. In recent years and due to the advent of biologics, medical therapy has been increasingly used. Based on their clinical experience, physicians should be able to determine stricture features and patient characteristics to make the best tailored therapeutic decision. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibodies are currently the most effective drugs available in specific cases of stricturing CD.