Participants of the voting were gastroenterologist and surgical specialists with a particular interest in IBD, with representatives

from throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The first round of voting was conducted anonymously through email and the second round of voting face-to-face after reviewing the available regional and international literature. The statements were selected to be simple, useful and relevant. The regional epidemiology data were reviewed, confirming that the impression of rising incidence and prevalence is based on robust data. Modern diagnostic tests were recommended. Differentiating infective enterocolitis from UC selleck chemicals was emphasized. The management guidelines were updated from the previous JGH publication18 by including recent advances, especially the use of biologic agents in countries with high background prevalences of latent tuberculosis. These statements are not designed to be all-encompassing. Importantly, the definitions, classification and nomenclature of IBD need to be standardized according to established international criteria, to ensure uniformity of descriptive and comparative epidemiology. To ensure that a ‘common language’ is used, the internationally-accepted Montreal Classification19 was used. Another research-focused

see more group, the Inflammatory Bowel Disease—Asia Pacific Working Party, recently convened in Guangzhou, China (March 7–8, 2009). The purpose of the meeting was to establish clinical and scientific research priorities, after reviewing the epidemiology, disease phenotype, and genetic and environmental risk factors of IBD relevant to Asia. During the first day, experts presented the latest IBD research

findings, followed by the formation of discrete research groups. On the second day of the conference, the chairperson of each session presented their recommendations and established directions for 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 further studies (Table 1). Obtaining robust epidemiology data was recognized to be difficult in some Asian countries due to the sheer population size of some cities, and the high population flux resulting from rural to urban shifts. However, research into the environmental risk factors in Asian areas, that are only now seeing an increase in IBD, may help identify which factors are the most important in allowing these diseases to emerge. Affluence appears to be a central factor, or cofactor, in the increasing incidence of IBD in Asia. Affluence, however, has multiple components. Changes in breast-feeding, exposure to environmental organisms and pathogens, the use of antibiotics, changes in the intestinal micro biota, and altered diet have all been postulated to be important. The rising rate of IBD in Asia offers an opportunity to explore the similar increase that was noted in Western countries half a century previously.