Recombinant human interleukin 10 for induction of remission in Crohn's disease.

The etiology of Crohn's disease remains unknown, nevertheless, it is apparent that inflammation is associated with an imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines produced within the intestinal mucosa. Crohn's disease represents a state of dysregulated inflammation and drugs that can augment the anti-inflammatory response have the potential to downregulate inflammation and thereby improve the disease. The efficacy of recombinant IL-10 in Crohn's disease was first demonstrated in a pilot study. Since then other trials have evaluated its efficacy but the available evidence has not been systematically reviewed.