A review of inflammatory bowel diseases in humans and pets: treatment strategies.

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses a group of chronic inflammatory conditions that primarily impact the gastrointestinal system. While ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the principal manifestations in humans, animals frequently exhibit lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis/colitis and eosinophilic enteritis/colitis. Growing evidence suggests a complex interplay among genetic predisposition, gut microbiota imbalance and abnormal immune responses to intestinal microbes in susceptible individuals. This intricate involvement results in remarkably similar clinical presentations across species. Patients often experience symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss and anemia. Extraintestinal manifestations including uveitis, skin rash and arthritis may also occur. Endoscopy and biopsy typically serve as the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis and differentiating it from other gastrointestinal disorders in humans and animals. The treatment approach generally focuses on managing disease activity through immunosuppressive medications such as glucocorticoids, administered at appropriate dosages. However, the precise cause of IBD remains a topic of ongoing research. With the emergence of additional treatment options like herbal compounds and fecal microbiota transplantation, which have demonstrated effectiveness in restoring gut health in IBD patients, there is optimism for novel therapeutic strategies. Ultimately, conclusion is that chronic gastrointestinal conditions like IBD are complex in both human and veterinary medicine. These diseases share numerous common pathophysiological features, yet, diagnostic and treatment challenges continue to exist.