Transition of the patient with IBD from pediatric to adult care-an assessment of current evidence.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic disease of remitting and relapsing nature that is increasingly diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. The importance of the transition from pediatric to adult health care is increasingly recognized, yet the preparation of patient and family before transfer and early subsequent care in the adult health care environment can be variable and challenging. Pediatric providers need to start early and prepare patients in a stepwise fashion. However, patients may not have mastered all the steps before transfer or may regress to earlier behaviors during stress. Thus, adult providers will need to understand how to maintain and finish the transition process. This is an updated literature review of the transition process in inflammatory bowel disease, which focuses on the practical ways that both pediatric and adult health care providers can optimize care.