Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a group of idiopathic diseases of the intestine characterized by chronic inflammation of the bowel with periods of exacerbation and remission. Although the exact cause of IBD remains undetermined, the condition appears to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors resulting in an aberrant activation of the mucosal immune system. This text contains a series of interdisciplinary discussions between clinical and basic scientists.