Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, have increased in frequency in industrialized countries in recent decades. In Austria, around 0.5% of the population is currently affected. The disease typically occurs between the ages of 10 and 30, but can also be diagnosed before or after this age. The most likely cause of the dramatic increase over the last 20 years is a change in lifestyle habits in industrialized countries. Crohn’s disease is often found in cigarette smokers, while ulcerative colitis tends to affect non-smokers or ex-smokers. In addition to nicotine consumption, modern food additives and increased hygiene are also factors. All this is based on a complex genetic predisposition.
For over 30 years, Professor Gasche has been involved in clinical care and research into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of IBD. With his globally recognized “Vienna Classification of Crohn’s Disease”, he has made a decisive contribution to improving the diagnosis and treatment of Crohn’s disease. Transabdominal bowel sonography is the most important and at the same time the simplest method for assessing the severity of the disease or the response to various treatments. Modern biologic therapy and endoscopic procedures such as balloon dilatation have led to a sustained improvement in quality of life and a reduction in the number of operations.
Due to chronic blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract, IBD is usually accompanied by iron deficiency . New intravenous iron preparations are very well tolerated and can quickly and effectively correct the deficiency. Professor Gasche was a pioneer of intravenous iron supplementation for patients with gastrointestinal diseases and chairman of international and national guideline committees on the diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and anemia in IBD. At Loha for Life, intravenous iron supplementation is an integral part of an individually personalized therapeutic approach.
The Laboratory for Molecular Gastroenterology at the Department of Internal Medicine III (MedUni Vienna), which has been headed by Professor Gasche for over 20 years, focuses on the molecular causes, prevention and treatment of IBD, irritable bowel syndrome, iron deficiency and colorectal cancer. Most recently, in collaboration with Loha for Life, endoscopic visible biofilms were detected in the intestines of patients with irritable bowel syndrome and IBD. These biofilms are an expression of a serious disturbance of the intestinal microbiota and are often the cause of digestive problems in IBD.
