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Conservative treatment of Crohn’s disease

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Abstract

Crohn’s disease is a disease of modern Western civilization; it has experienced a tremendous increase since 1960. Incidence rates in Northern Europe and the United States are now up to 8.8/100 000 inhabitants per year and prevalence rates up to 106/100 000 inhabitants (Table 3.1). Despite very extensive investigation, the aetiology of Crohn’s disease remains unknown and, in consequence, to date no causal therapy exists. Thus Dr Crohn’s statement made in 1932 is still valid and true: ‘Medical treatment is purely palliative and supportive’1.

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Wietholtz, H., Thon, H.J., Büchsel, R., Matern, S. (1989). Conservative treatment of Crohn’s disease. In: Matern, S. (eds) Clinical Research in Gastroenterology 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2488-8_3

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