Review Usefulness of an elemental diet in Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic relapsing disease for which no complete cure is available. Although drug therapy with agents such as corticosteroids and azathiopurine is use- ful, the long-term side effects of these drugs are problematic. The advent of infliximab has recently brought a change in treatment, but the long-term side effects of this agent remain uncertain. In contrast, nutritional therapy produces no drug- induced side effects and is effective in inducing and maintain- ing remission. However, sufficient efficacy cannot be expect - ed in patients in whom compliance with nutritional regimens gradually decreases owing to unpalatability. In these cases, combination therapy with agents such as immunosuppressors and infliximab may be useful.