Corticosteroid treatment in active Crohn's disease

Despite recent improvements in the management of Crohn's disease, steroids are still the most efficacious treatment in flare ups of the disease. However they have significant side effects and are only effective in the short term. There is no consensus regarding initial dose or duration of corticotherapy. With 1 mg/Kg a day of oral prednisolone given for 3 to 7 weeks, 92% of the patients achieve clinical remission. Topical acting oral corticosteroids such as budesonide seem to represent an important therapeutic advance due to their better tolerance. The promising results of budesonide in mild and moderate flare ups need to be confirmed and its indication in severe disease beside high dose prednisolone has to be clarified.