Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Gastroenterology & Hepatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 933

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
GI-Unit, 3rd Academic Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Interests: gastroenterology; inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD); Crohn’s disease; ulcerative colitis; intestinal ultrasound

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Guest Editor
Department of Gastroenterology, Alexandra General Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
Interests: irritable colon; diarrhea; ulcerative colitis; Crohn's disease; digestive system function disorder

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Guest Editor
2nd Academic Department of Internal Medicine, Liver-GI Unit, General Hospital of Athens “Hippocration”, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 114 Vas. Sofias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
Interests: cance; immunotherapy; hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR); anti-GITR monoclonal antibodies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit your work for this Special Issue centred around Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. The increasing prevalence of IBD has made the elucidation of its pathophysiology and the development of effective therapies an absolute necessity. Prompt diagnosis is particularly crucial, as early initiation of treatment is believed to modify the natural course of the disease.

This Special Issue will focus on clinically significant original research articles and reviews intended for general practitioners and IBD specialists. Submissions should explore in greater depth the diagnosis of IBD, optimal follow-up strategies, and current therapeutic options. In addition to clinical, biochemical and endoscopic parameters, particular emphasis should be given to intestinal ultrasound. Its ease of use, low cost and strong correlation with endoscopic findings have established it as an emerging tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of IBD. Regarding treatment, this Special Issue also welcomes studies focused on newer therapeutic classes—such as small molecules and IL-23 inhibitors—for which real-world data on efficacy and safety remail limited. Finally, we welcome articles that examine the potential value of the “treat-to-target” approach and its impact on clinical practice.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Georgios Kokkotis
Dr. Evanthia Zampeli
Dr. Spyros I. Siakavellas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • intestinal ultrasound
  • biomarkers
  • treat-to-target
  • tight monitoring
  • small molecules
  • anti-p19

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2109 KB  
Article
Pharmacological Strategies for Preventing Postoperative Recurrence in Crohn’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
by Wei Chen, Xin Tong, Yuhang Liu, Xi Zhang, Siying Zhu, Yanhua Zhou, Yongdong Wu and Ye Zong
Medicina 2026, 62(5), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62050883 - 5 May 2026
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: Despite surgical intervention for remission, recurrence is nearly inevitable in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). While several maintenance therapies are available, the optimal strategy for preventing postoperative recurrence remains uncertain. Materials and Methods: This systematic review and network [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Despite surgical intervention for remission, recurrence is nearly inevitable in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). While several maintenance therapies are available, the optimal strategy for preventing postoperative recurrence remains uncertain. Materials and Methods: This systematic review and network meta-analysis included placebo-controlled or head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central up to 4 July 2024. Studies assessed maintenance therapies for CD after curative resection. Data were extracted from intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses separately. The primary outcomes were endoscopic and clinical relapse. A Bayesian network meta-analysis provided risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024629013). Results: From 1492 screened records, 45 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Compared with placebo, clinically significant prevention of clinical recurrence was achieved with adalimumab (RR = 0.17; GRADE High), nitroimidazoles (RR = 0.35; High), infliximab (RR = 0.59; Moderate), thiopurine analogs (RR = 0.41; Moderate), and high-dose mesalamine (RR = 0.74; High), while azathioprine-metronidazole combination therapy demonstrated superior efficacy to azathioprine monotherapy. For endoscopic recurrence mitigation, therapeutic efficacy was confirmed for adalimumab (RR = 0.24; Low), infliximab (RR = 0.32; Moderate), vedolizumab (RR = 0.36; Low), and thiopurine analogs (RR = 0.64; Moderate). Conclusions: This network meta-analysis establishes pharmacological hierarchies for preventing postoperative Crohn’s disease recurrence. Adalimumab is the most effective monotherapy for clinical recurrence prevention, while combination therapies of adalimumab/azathioprine plus nitroimidazole show superior efficacy. For endoscopic recurrence prevention, adalimumab also ranks as the most effective intervention. These findings guide therapy selection but require validation for newer agents through randomized trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD))
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Review

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16 pages, 850 KB  
Review
Ear, Nose, and Throat Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Spectrum
by Eleni Litsou, Georgios Psychogios, Maria Saridi, Konstantinos H. Katsanos and Fotios Fousekis
Medicina 2026, 62(5), 943; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62050943 - 12 May 2026
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Abstract
Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), represents a chronic immune-mediated disorder frequently associated with extraintestinal manifestations. While musculoskeletal, dermatologic, and ocular complications are well recognized, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) involvement remains underrecognized despite its [...] Read more.
Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), represents a chronic immune-mediated disorder frequently associated with extraintestinal manifestations. While musculoskeletal, dermatologic, and ocular complications are well recognized, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) involvement remains underrecognized despite its potential morbidity. Objective: To systematically evaluate the spectrum of ENT manifestations in IBD, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and outcomes. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies included English-language human studies (2015–2026) reporting ENT manifestations in UC or CD. Following screening, 23 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Extracted data comprised study design, IBD subtype, patient demographics, ENT manifestations, diagnostic methods, and clinical outcomes. Results: The majority of studies consisted of case reports and small observational series. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was the most frequently reported manifestation in both adult and pediatric populations, with evidence suggesting immune-mediated mechanisms and variable responsiveness to corticosteroids. Nasal involvement included pyoderma gangrenosum, pyoderma vegetans, and aseptic nasal septal abscess, occasionally resulting in severe structural complications such as saddle-nose deformity. Laryngeal and airway involvement included dysphonia, tracheitis, and rare but potentially life-threatening inflammatory airway disease. Additional findings included associations with chronic rhinosinusitis. Diagnosis relied on audiometry, imaging, endoscopy, and histopathology. Systemic corticosteroids were frequently effective; however, delayed recognition may lead to irreversible sequelae. Conclusions: ENT manifestations in IBD constitute a clinically heterogeneous but important group of extraintestinal complications. Increased awareness of ENT manifestations may support earlier diagnosis and multidisciplinary management of IBD, potentially reducing irreversible complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD))
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