Genetics and inflammatory bowel disease.

Authors:
S Schreiber, J Hampe
Year of publication:
1999
Volume:
15
Issue:
4
Issn:
0267-1379
Journal title abbreviated:
CURR OPIN GASTROEN
Journal title long:
Current opinion in gastroenterology : bi-monthly review of the world literature
Impact factor:
3.618
Abstract:
Genetic factors have a definite role in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The mode of inheritance suggests a polygenic disease with the penetrance of the genetic factors being strongly influenced by the lifestyle of an industrialized society. Molecular techniques, which have become available through the progress of the human genome project, allowed a first series of linkage studies in pairs of affected siblings with IBD, which suggested multiple genomic susceptibility regions. These regions are still large, but considerable progress is being made toward the identification of actual disease genes. It is hoped that an understanding of the genetic etiology of IBD will lead to enhanced diagnostic procedures, more effective therapeutic interventions, and preventive strategies in the future.