Origins and Directions of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, 2001
Early Studies of the “Nonspecific” Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Few human illnesses today are so challenging, medically, scientifically, and socio-economically, as the "nonspecific" inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Originating several centuries ago but essentially diseases of the 20th century, often attacking children and young adults, involving all bodily systems as well as the gastrointestinal tract, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have emerged in recent decades as among the more "glamorous" unsolved diseases, presenting unusual opportunities for insightful clinical and investigative study. Many of the prevailing concepts originated during the early and mid 20th century. The purpose of Origins and Directions of Inflammatory BowelDisease is to review these earlier studies and their evolution "from the mystical to the molecular," and guide investigators and physicians through the challenging clinical and scientific maze of IBD.

Ulcerative colitis.- Early IBD-related events.- Beginnings.- Increasing clinical recognition.- Initial pathology of ulcerative colitis and its pathogenic implications.- Pathology — electron microscopy — ulcerative colitis.- “Natural” and experimental ulcerative colitis.- References.- Crohn’s disease.- Origins.- Early clinical recognition.- Animal and experimental Crohn’s disease.- Abdominal trauma.- The early Mt. Sinai (New York) experience.- More early 20th century reports (CD).- Crohn’s disease of the colon — delayed recognition.- Early pathology of Crohn’s disease.- Electron microscopy — Crohn’s disease.- Origin of eponym of Crohn’s disease.- References.- Etiology of pathogenesis of IBD — origins and directions.- Epidemiology.- Psychogenic aspects (UC, CD).- Microbial aspects — ulcerative colitis.- Microbial aspects — Crohn’s disease.- Immune mechanisms.- M cell.- Epithelial permeability.- Inflammation (cytokines, lymphokines).- Genetic aspects of inflammatory bowel disease — early observations.- Concluding commentary.- References.- The early treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.- References.- References.- Additional early publications on inflammatory bowel disease.