This book is intended to be more than a comprehensive compilation of reviews by individual authors on different aspects of inflammatory bowel diseases. The book will give the reader a glimpse of where the field is moving and an idea of likely research directions in the future.

This book is intended to be more than a comprehensive compilation of reviews by individual authors on different aspects of inflammatory bowel diseases. It is intended that the individual chapters be components of a coherent, albeit detailed, story of the local and systemic pathophysiology of intestinal inflammation, with a well-reasoned series of management strategies. Our goal was not only to produce a standard reference text, but also to present research advances and current concepts of etiopathogenesis in the context of what is already known of the clinicopathologic features of these disorders. Our vision was to have a book that would blend recent advances in the basic and clinical sciences as they relate to inflammatory bowel disease. It is our hope that the book will illustrate the effectiveness of a team approach of basic scientists and clinician investigators in this field. The book will give the reader a glimpse of where the field is moving and an idea of likely research directions in the future. Of course, it is our personal wish that this book will stimulate ideas for future research.

`This is one of the most comprehensive, well written and convincing books on IBD we have had the opportunity to examine in recent years. It is well written (it includes several well known experts in the field), nicely illustrated, up to date (references reach up to 2001) and extremely stimulating. If you have EUR 200 to invest, do not hesitate to buy this book: you will be well rewarded by all you will learn when you glance through its pages.'
Digestive and Liver Disease, 36 (2004)