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©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2013; 19(43): 7552-7560
Published online Nov 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i43.7552
Published online Nov 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i43.7552
Mucosal healing and deep remission: What does it mean?
Gerhard Rogler, Stephan Vavricka, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
Gerhard Rogler, Stephan Vavricka, Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland
Stephan Vavricka, Gastroenterology, Triemli Spital, 8063 Zürich, Switzerland
Alain Schoepfer, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois et Université de Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Peter L Lakatos, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 1st Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University, H1083 Budapest, Hungary
Author contributions: Rogler G made the concept of the manuscript; Rogler G, Vavricka S, Schoepfer A and Lakatos PL wrote the manuscript together.
Supported by Grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation to Rogler G, Grant No. 310030-120312; to Schoepfer A, Grant No. 32003B_135665/1; to Vavricka S, Grant No. 320000-114009/3 and 32473B_135694/1; and to the Swiss IBD Cohort, Grant No. 33CS30_134274
Correspondence to: Gerhard Rogler, MD, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland. gerhard.rogler@usz.ch
Telephone: +41-44-2559519 Fax: +41-44-2559479
Received: July 15, 2013
Revised: September 20, 2013
Accepted: September 29, 2013
Published online: November 21, 2013
Revised: September 20, 2013
Accepted: September 29, 2013
Published online: November 21, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip:“Mucosal healing” and “deep remission” have been discussed heavily as “new” treatment goals in inflammatory bowel diseases patients in recent years. This was based on evidence that the long term disease behaviour appears to be better, when mucosal healing is achieved. Unfortunately, a definite proof that therapy escalation for patients in clinical remission not achieving mucosal healing will be beneficial is still lacking. Clinical trials are under way to answer this question. At the moment it appears to be helpful to summarize the current evidence available on mucosal healing and deep remission to support the everyday decision making for gastroenterologists.