[Inflammatory bowel disease and pregnancy].

Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) is a chronic illness, often affecting people of reproductive age. Treatment involves drugs which have potential side effects and because of this pregnancy causes considerable concern. The course of the disease is not much affected by pregnancy. The relapse rate is only slightly increased when the disease is active at the time of conception. Relapses during pregnancy should be treated in the usual manner. Surgical intervention should be carried out on the same indications as in those who are not pregnant. Frequency of complications is not increased during pregnancy, at delivery or post partum. Sectio may be necessary in perianal disease. With few exceptions, drug treatment should be continued throughout pregnancy. No adverse effects are seen with normal doses of sulfasalazine, 5-amino-salicylic acid and steroids. Planned pregnancies should be started in periods of quiescent disease.