Pouchitis: A Human Model for Gut Inflammation?

Abstract
Ulcerative colitis can be surgically managed by removal of the colon and constructing a new fecal reservoir from the healthy small bowel and attaching it to the anus, the so called Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis. Unfortunately up to 50% of such pateints subsequently suffer recurrent inflammation of the pouch or “Pouchitis”. Typically managed with a short course of antibiotics, some cases are severely recalcitrant to such therapy, suggesting both a role for bacteria and host immune mechanisms in the etiology of this complication.