16.04 Drugs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease is distinct from irritable bowel disease/syndrome. Inflammatory bowel disease is chronic inflammation of small and large intestines, usually of unknown aetiology (cause).

Inflammatory bowel disease includes Crohn’s disease, which can affect both the small and large bowel. In Crohn’s disease, the inflammation is focal (localised) but can affect all layers of the bowel. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease are severe abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may contain blood), vomiting, and weight loss.

Inflammatory bowel disease also includes ulcerative colitis (ulcers in the colon), which is confined to the colon and characterized by chronic, superficial inflammation. Ulcerative colitis always involves distal colon and extends continuously for a variable length proximally.

As the inflammation of inflammatory bowel disease is severe, it is not overcome by using a NSAID. Thus, stronger anti-inflammatory agents are required.