Inflammatory bowel disease: what is new?

This article reviews a selection of 50 papers on inflammatory bowel disease published between April 2002 and August 2003. The new information and progress summarized here includes: the role of bacteria, their interaction with CARD15/NOD2 gene products and the modulating effects of probiotics; new imaging techniques, such as wireless capsule endoscopy and chromoendoscopy for detecting dysplasia, and fecal markers. It has not been possible to review every aspect of treatment, and the focus here is on factors capable of predicting the efficacy and tolerance of infliximab and new treatments, including natalizumab, thalidomide, cyclophosphamide and 6-thioguanine.