History of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Giovanni Clemente Actis,Davide Giuseppe Ribaldone,Rinaldo Pellicano,Sharmila Fagoonee

doi:10.3390/jcm8111970

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa and unknown etiology. In this review, we identified three main eras in the IBD history. Between the 19th and the 20th century, the primary task had been the definition of the diagnostic criteria in order to differentiate the new entity from intestinal tuberculosis. In the 20th century, an intense and prolific therapeutic research prevailed, culminating in the introduction of biological drugs in the clinical setting. Since the beginning of the 21st century, traditional definition criteria have been challenged by holistic criteria in an effort to seek a still unattained cure. Centuries of worldwide efforts on IBD etiology and therapy search have culminated in this novel strategy.

Highlights

In the last 70 years, the scientific community has become progressively aware of a trans-organ pattern of inflammation where non-specific mild markers of inflammation have replaced the classically known organ-specific stigmata fully manifesting as redness, swelling, and pain [1]
Articles published in English regarding the history of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) diagnosis, the evolution of therapy, and the role of IBD in the context of systemic inflammation were identified through MEDLINE, SCOPUS, ISI-Web of Knowledge, and EMBASE searches using the terms “ulcerative colitis”, “Crohn’s disease”, “inflammatory bowel disease”, “history”, “diagnosis”, “therapy”, and “interactome”
Other microorganisms supposedly implicated as etiologic agents of IBD were Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides necrophorum, Helicobacter hepaticus or pylori, Listeria, Pseudomonas maltophilia, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Chlamydia, Shigella, Coxsakie A, B, Wolinella, Norwalk virus, Polio virus, Reovirus, herpes virus, Paramyxovirus, and Influenze B, as well as the loss of helminths [13]

Summary

Introduction

In the last 70 years, the scientific community has become progressively aware of a trans-organ pattern of inflammation where non-specific mild (indolent) markers of inflammation have replaced the classically known organ-specific stigmata fully manifesting as redness, swelling, and pain [1]. The attitudes of investigators towards the novel challenges posed by the spreading of IBD (mostly but not exclusively in the Western regions) can be subdivided into three temporal phases: the definition of diagnostic criteria, the search for therapy and, an attempt to a holistic vision. We address these three temporal phases of the IBD, and discuss the history of this disease and related evolutionary findings across centuries

Methods

Results

Conclusion