CROHN'S DISEASE: CURRENT UNDERSTANDING AND FUTURE THERAPEUTICS APPROACHES

Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract and one of the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's disease is characterized by transmural inflammation, which may occur in any segment of the digestive tract and may cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss, and extra-intestinal manifestations. Crohn’s disease is characterized by a multifactorial aetiology, where genetic predisposition interacts with immunological dysregulation, environmental stimuli, and perturbations in intestinal microbiota. Pathogenesis is driven by an exaggerated immune response, particularly T-helper cell activation and the involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukins, which cause persistent infection-related intestinal inflammation and obstructive tissue damage. Diagnosis is established via a combination of clinical assessment, endoscopic findings, imaging methods, and histopathological examination. Anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biological therapies targeting specific pathways of inflammation constitute the current therapeutic strategies. Even with advances in treatment, many patients suffer from relapse and complications, indicating that better management strategies are required. New approaches such as targeted biologics, microbiome-based intervention strategies, and novel drug delivery systems have opened up exciting avenues for the future.