Chronic inflammatory bowel disease still represents a major gastroenterological challenge, in view of the unclear aetiology and unsatisfactory therapy. This book, the proceedings of a Falk Symposium held in Lubeck, Germany on 4-5 March 1994, should act as a vehicle for our current knowledge, and promote the dialogue between clinicians and those involved with the associated sciences. The book begins with international experts discussing the more recent theories concerning the aetiology and pathogenesis. Questions of diagnosis and the conservative and surgical treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are dealt with in detail. This volume in the Falk Symposium represents a forum of experts for discussion of the most recent findings, and provides clinical gastroenterologists with an opportunity to inform themselves of the state-of-the-art in the field of inflammatory bowel disease.
