Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder involving mainly the intestinal tract, but possibly other gastrointestinal and extraintestinal organs. Although etiology is still uncertain, recent knowledge in pathogenesis has accumulated, and novel diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have become available for clinical use. Therefore, the previous guidelines were urged to be updated. In 2016, the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology revised the previous versions of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) in Japanese. A total of 59 clinical questions for 9 categories (1. clinical features of IBD; 2. diagnosis; 3. general consideration in treatment; 4. therapeutic interventions for IBD; 5. treatment of UC; 6. treatment of CD; 7. extraintestinal complications; 8. cancer surveillance; 9. IBD in special situation) were selected, and a literature search was performed for the clinical questions with use of the MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases. The guidelines were developed with the basic concept of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Recommendations were made using Delphi rounds. This English version was produced and edited based on the existing updated guidelines in Japanese.

This article has an accompanying continuing medical education activity, also eligible for MOC credit, on page e23. Learning Objective: Upon completion of this evaluation, successful learners will be able to manage patients with ulcerative colitis who are at high risk for the development of colorectal cancer.

BackgroundClinical evidence regarding intestinal Behçet’s disease (BD) management is lacking and intestinal lesions are a poor prognostic factor. In 2007, the Japan consensus statement for diagnosis and management of intestinal BD was developed. Recently, the efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and infliximab (IFX) was reported and adalimumab (ADA) was approved for intestinal BD in Japan. This study renewed consensus-based practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of intestinal BD focusing on the indication of anti-TNFα mAbs.MethodsAn expert panel of Japanese gastroenterology and rheumatology specialists was involved. Clinical statements for ratings were extracted from the literature, a professional group survey, and by an expert panel discussion, which rated clinical statements on a nine-point scale. After the first round of ratings, a panelist meeting discussed areas of disagreement and clarified areas of uncertainty. The list of clinical statements was revised after the panelist meeting and a second round of ratings was conducted.ResultsFifteen relevant articles were selected. Based on the first edition consensus statement, improved clinical statements regarding indications for anti-TNFα mAbs use were developed. After a two-round modified Delphi approach, the second edition of consensus statements was finalized.ConclusionsIn addition to standard therapies in the first edition, anti-TNFα mAbs (ADA and IFX) should be considered as a standard therapy for intestinal BD. Colchicines, thalidomide, other pharmacological therapy, endoscopic therapy, and leukocytapheresis were deemed experimental therapies.

5-Aminosalycylic acid, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, enteral nutrition, total parenteral nutrition, and surgical therapy were considered standard therapy for intestinal Behçet's disease. Infliximab, colchicines, thalidomide, other pharmacological therapy, endoscopic therapy, and leukocytapheresis were deemed experimental therapy. Based on a two-round modified Delphi approach, practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of intestinal Behçet's disease were developed.