Molecular targets and the use of biologics in the management of small bowel fibrosis in inflammatory bowel disease.

Purpose Of Review: Small bowel fibrosis is a significant burden on Crohn's disease patients with limited effective medical treatments that then requires surgery. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms causing fibrosis and the evidence of benefit of available biologics will potentially lighten this burden and avoid the need for surgery.

Recent Findings: Transforming growth factor-beta and it's associated pathways remain the central cog in the wheel of fibrosis formation.

Impact of the coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the provision of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) antenatal care and outcomes of pregnancies in women with IBD.

Background: The impact of COVID-19 on pregnant inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is currently unknown. Reconfiguration of services during the pandemic may negatively affect medical and obstetric care. We aimed to examine the impacts on IBD antenatal care and pregnancy outcomes.