Preface

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that is associated with significant morbidity. IBD is caused by a complex interaction between an abnormal immune response and intestinal dysbiosis in a genetically susceptible host. While the precise mechanisms underlying IBD pathogenesis remain unknown, recent studies have identified key factors in each of these components influencing disease onset and progression. Large-scale genomic studies, for example, have identified numerous susceptibility loci, especially among genes involved in immune pathways, that are associated with IBD risk and, in some cases, severity.
Source: Seminars in Pediatric Surgery - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Source Type: research