Fibrostenotic inflammatory bowel disease: A cinderella story

Abstract

Intestinal fibrosis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) leading to stricture formation, intestinal obstruction and need for surgical intervention remains one of the largest unresolved clinical challenges in IBD. Despite the emergence of novel anti-inflammatory drugs the incidence of stricture formation and surgery remained largely unchanged. Challenges in testing anti-fibrotic compounds have so far prevented progress in this area, but recent development put clinical trials for anti-fibrotic compounds into reach.