Milestone papers that changed clinical practice in IBD

The understanding and clinical management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have evolved rapidly since ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease were first described in 1859 and 1913, respectively. Over this time, certain landmark studies stand out for their impact in the field of IBD, leaving a lasting imprint on our understanding of disease pathology, treatments and strategies for optimal care, informing us of the best way to use new therapies, as well as how to deliver surgical care to improve outcomes and ultimately quality of life. Our multinational group shortlisted potential milestone papers and discussed the merits of each, and unanimous agreement was reached on those that were subsequently included in this review. We highlight key landmark papers, which have resulted in paradigm shifts leading to current clinical practice.