Therapy of inflammatory bowel disease

In the last decade, substantial gains have been made in the treatment of in flammatory bowel disease (IBD). Refinements in drug formulation have provid ed the ability to target distinct sites of delivery, enhancing the safety a nd efficacy of older agents. Immunosuppressive agents beyond corticosteroid s have assumed a routine part in the care of patients with IBD. Moreover, a s the century closes, we stand at the threshold of unprecedented advances i n knowledge of the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Simultaneous progress in biotechnology has fostered the development of new agents that strategically target pivotal processes in disease pathogenesis. This review covers agents currently used in the treatment of IBD and seeks to provide an overview of emerging therapies.