Management of Crohn's disease in Taiwan: consensus guideline of the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Management of Crohn's disease in Taiwan: consensus guideline of the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Intestinal Research , June 2017

28670226

Shu-Chen Wei, Ting-An Chang, Te-Hsin Chao, Jinn-Shiun Chen, Jen-Wei Chou, Yenn-Hwei Chou, Chiao-Hsiung Chuang, Wen-Hung Hsu, Tien-Yu Huang, Tzu-Chi Hsu, Chun-Chi Lin, Hung-Hsin Lin, Jen-Kou Lin, Wei-Chen Lin, Yen-Hsuan Ni, Ming-Jium Shieh, I-Lun Shih, Chia-Tung Shun, Yuk-Ming Tsang, Cheng-Yi Wang, Horng-Yuan Wang, Meng-Tzu Weng, Deng-Chyang Wu, Wen-Chieh Wu, Hsu-Heng Yen, Jau-Min Wong

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. CD is rare in Taiwan and other Asian countries, but its prevalence and incidence have been steadily increasing. A steering committee was established by the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease to formulate statements on the diagnosis and management of CD taking into account currently available evidence and the expert opinion of the committee. Thorough clinical, endoscopic, and histological assessments are required for accurate diagnosis of CD. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are complementary to endoscopic evaluation for disease staging and detecting complications. The goals of CD management are to induce and maintain remission, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life. Corticosteroids are the mainstay for inducing re-mission. Immunomodulating and biologic therapies should be used to maintain remission. Patients should be evaluated for hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis infection prior to treatment and receive regular surveillance for cancer. These consensus statements are based on current local evidence with consideration of factors, and could be serve as concise and practical guidelines for supporting clinicians in the management of patients with CD in Taiwan.