Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease which is progressively destructive in nature. Persistent inflammation often leads to bowel damage over time, with the development of strictures, fistulae and abscesses. Current standard therapeutic strategies have not modified the course of CD. The focus of effective management of CD has shifted from short-term symptom control to long-term modification of disease course and complications. Traditionally, clinical remission was regarded as a therapeutic endpoint, however mucosal healing (MH) has emerged as a major therapeutic goal in CD. It is associated with lower relapse and hospitalisation rates, less bowel damage and reduced need for surgery. Growing evidence indicates that we have to look beyond clinical symptoms. Hence, achieving deep remission (clinical remission and mucosal healing) may be the way to alter the natural course of CD.
This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to view the full article.