Editorial
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2010; 16(21): 2589-2590
Published online Jun 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i21.2589
Prediction of disease course in inflammatory bowel diseases
Peter Laszlo Lakatos
Peter Laszlo Lakatos, 1st Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University, H-1083 Budapest, Koranyi S 2A, Hungary
Author contributions: Lakatos PL, a series editor of Topic Highlight “Prediction of disease course in IBD”, wrote this Editorial.
Correspondence to: Dr. Peter Laszlo Lakatos, MD, PhD, 1st Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University, H-1083 Budapest, Koranyi S 2A, Hungary. kislakpet@bel1.sote.hu
Telephone: +36-1-2100278 Fax: +36-1-3130250
Received: May 19, 2010
Revised: May 22, 2010
Accepted: May 24, 2010
Published online: June 7, 2010
Abstract

Clinical presentation at diagnosis and disease course of both Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis are heterogeneous and variable over time. Since most patients have a relapsing course and most CD patients develop complications (e.g. stricture and/or perforation), much emphasis has been placed in the recent years on the determination of important predictive factors. The identification of these factors may eventually lead to a more personalized, tailored therapy. In this TOPIC HIGHLIGHT series, we provide an update on the available literature regarding important clinical, endoscopic, fecal, serological/routine laboratory and genetic factors. Our aim is to assist clinicians in the everyday practical decision-making when choosing the treatment strategy for their patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn’s disease; Ulcerative colitis; Disease course; Predictive markers; Clinical; Serology; Genetics