Matrix of the Mucosa Meeting.

Best Practice & Research: Clinical Gastroenterology. 18(Suppl):S1-120, 2004

Modlin, Irvin M MD, PhD

FOREWORD

This monograph represents a complitation of presentations delivered at the DEFINING THE MATRIX OF THE MUCOSA: QUESTIONS, SOLUTIONS AND DIRECTIONS IN GASTROENTEROLOGY Meeting that took place on November 31-December 2, 2003.

The purpose of the meeting was to assemble a group of international authorities experienced in different aspects of gastrointestinal disease with a view to determining future directions in which clinical focus or investigative advances would be needed. In addition, an opportunity was provided to initiate the establishment of a platform for interface between international leaders and countries that are either challenged by major health problems or might benefit from academic and intellectual interchange.

A generous an unrestricted educational grant provided by Altana Pharma Inc. enabled an international faculty of experts to be assembled to opine on the current state of the art and to provide a document memorializing both the individual and collective views of physicians gathered from five different continents.

The subject of gastrointestinal-related diseases has been explored in considerable depth over the last decade as the magnitude of the clinical problems has become apparent. Although the topic has been explored in the past, this forum was chosen to recapitulate the information available and identify areas of that might comprise future issues.

The meeting was divided into five sessions and the subjects addressed included: The role of pharmacotherapy in upper GI bleeding, the current issues in GERD, the aged stomach and the pancreas, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal carcinoma and current strategies in the treatment of hepatitis. As the result of the discussions it has become obvious that there are a number of unmet needs, particularly in the treatment of GERD as well as the potential future requirements for acid suppressive therapy. In addition, evolving concepts in the elucidation of IBS and IBS highlighted the urgent necessity that these heterogeneous and obscure entities be addressed with considerable urgency.

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