Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic relapsing condition that can a
ffect all age groups. No definitive cure for the disease has yet been
found. Therefore the current goals of therapy are to control symptoms,
induce and maintain remission, and limit the toxicities of available
treatment. Older medications such as sulfasalazine and corticosteroids
, while generally effective, are associated with side effects and comp
lications that prevent high-dose delivery to the targeted area. Newer
agents, including antimicrobials, immunoglobulin, and eicosanoid inhib
itors, are now being developed to minimize these problems, and to inhi
bit the inflammatory response common in this condition.