Intestinal stricture in Crohn's disease: A 2020 update. Issue 7 (17th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Xiao Xuan; Qiu, Yun; Zhuang, Xiao Jun; Liu, Fen; Wu, Xiao Min; Chen, Min Hu; Mao, Ren
• Is Part Of: Journal of digestive diseases. Volume 22:Issue 7(2021)
• Page Start: 390
• Page End: 398
• Publication Date: 2021-06-17
• Subjects: Crohn disease -- intestinal fibrosis -- pathogenesis -- stricture; Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; 616.3
• DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.13022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-2972

Abstract

Abstract : Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic and relapsing–remitting inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Approximately 70% of patients inevitably develop fibrosis‐associated intestinal stricture after 10 years of CD diagnosis, which seriously affects their quality of life. Current therapies play limited role in preventing or reversing the process of fibrosis and no specific anti‐fibrotic therapy is yet available. Nearly half of patients thus have no alternative but to receive surgery. The potential mechanisms of intestinal fibrosis remain poorly understood; extracellular matrix remodeling, aberrant immune response, intestinal microbiome imbalance and creeping fat might exert fundamental influences on the multiple physiological and pathophysiological processes. Recently, the emerging new diagnostic techniques have markedly promoted an accurate assessment of intestinal stricture by distinguishing fibrosis from inflammation, which is crucial for guiding treatment and predicting prognosis. In this review, we concisely summarized the key studies published in the year 2020 covering pathogenesis, diagnostic modalities, and therapeutic strategy of intestinal stricture. A comprehensive and timely review of the updated researches in intestinal stricture could provide insight to further elucidate its pathogenesis and identify novel drug targets with anti‐fibrotic potentiality. Abstract : Remarkable progress and advances have been published in 2020 on the mechanisms of intestinal fibrogenesis, and the diagnosis and treatment of strictures in Crohn's disease. Potential antifibrotic reagents and therapy targets were found in 2020 that are effective in experimental animal models of fibrogenesis.