European evidence based consensus on the diagnosis and management of Crohn's disease: definitions and diagnosis

Abstract

The consensus endeavours to address these differences. The consensus is not meant to supersede the guidelines of different countries (such as those from the UK,² Germany,³ or France), which reach broadly the same conclusions as they are, after all, based on the same evidence. Rather, the aim of the consensus is to promote a European perspective on the management of CD and its dilemmas. As the development of guidelines is an expensive and time consuming process, it may help to avoid duplication of effort in the future. A consensus is also considered important because an increasing number of therapeutic trials are based in Europe, especially in eastern European countries where practice guidelines have yet to be published.