New developments: gastroenterology.

Therapy of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis cause significant morbidity in the pediatric age group. The precise etiology of inflammatory bowel disease remains unknown; therefore, our therapeutic efforts continue to be directed toward controlling the symptoms. Current therapy for inflammatory bowel disease is focused on the use of steroids because of their anti-inflammatory effect. Unfortunately, chronic steroid use is associated with significant and serious side effects such as increased blood pressure, fluid retention, bone thinning, and delayed growth. In an attempt to avoid these undesirable consequences, there has been a search for other antiinflammatory agents.