The two most common kinds of inflammatory intestinal disease are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. According to estimates, up to 300,000 patients are affected in Germany. At particular risk are people in the two age groups of around 25 and around 50.

Ulcerative colitis is limited to the large intestine, which is infested continually, starting from the rectum. In Crohn´s disease, healthy and inflamed intestinal segments alternate. However, the entire digestive tract from the esophagus to the bowel end can be affected. Most frequently, the passage area between the small and the large intestine is inflamed.

While only the mucous membrane is inflamed in ulcerative colitis, in Crohn´s disease and deeper regions can be affected as well. Frequently, constrictions and excrescences can develop which can lead to intestinal obstruction. This can only be corrected by surgically removing parts of the intestine.

In addition, Crohn’s disease can spread to surrounding tissue, such as the bladder, the vagina or the skin. This happens through tunnels which are called fistulas.

Chronic intestinal inflammations severely limit the quality of life of the affected people.