slides
Somatostatin and Intestinal Inflammation
- Publication date
- 7 April 1999
- Publisher
- Since Dr Smethurst in 1859 was prosecuted for poisoning Mrs Ballks, who
apparently suffered from Crohn's disease, there have been many different
theories about the nature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The concept of
idiopathic ulcerative colitis in the late 19th century and its differentiation from
idiopathic regional ileitis, later known as Crohn's disease, only appeared in the
last hundred years. Much has still to be learned about the etiology and
pathogenesis of these diseases. Before 1970, genetic factors or hypersensitivity to
certain unknown micro-organisms or toxic agents were poshdated, and these
concepts have not as yet been refuted.
In the last two decades, research has concentrated on elements of the intestinal
immune system in the pathogenesis ofIBD.