IBD

THEN

Symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease include fever, stomach cramps, diarrhea and gas. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulceration in the large intestine. First reported in the late 18th century, the disease wasn’t termed “ulcerative colitis” until the mid-19th century. It was often considered a psychosomatic disease. Crohn’s disease can cause inflammation anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. It takes its name from Burrill Crohn, MD, a gastroenterologist who was part of a team in 1932 that described the illness and showed how it was unique. At that time, any disease in the small intestine was thought to be intestinal tuberculosis. Early treatments included special diets, antiseptics, astringents, milk soured by lactic acid, and even kerosene, with desperate hopes to cure patients of their symptoms.

NOW

Researchers are still trying to determine why some people develop IBD. Three factors appear to play a role: 

• Genetics. 
• An immune system response that mistakes food for foreign substances. 
• Environmental triggers, including smoking, stress, certain medications and depression. 

Most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 30, IBD affects all ages and genders. While there is no cure, there are treatment options that produce remission and prevent symptom flare-ups. Patients usually require lifelong care from a collaborative team that includes a gastroenterologist, psychologist, dietitian and others. They also may participate in clinical trials or undergo more complex diagnostic and treatment options, including therapeutic endoscopy, colorectal surgery and intestinal rehabilitation. 

NEXT

Thaddeus Stappenbeck, MD, PhD, has spent the past 20 years investigating how wounds to the lining of the intestine, usually developed from infection, can lead to IBD when the body's repair mechanisms fail. In 2023, the Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation awarded its prestigious Sherman Prize to Dr. Stappenbeck for his exceptional contributions to transforming care for patients with IBD. His work also is supported by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Dr. Stappenbeck, Chair of the Department of Inflammation and Immunity at Cleveland Clinic and holder of the Sherwick Endowed Chair in Inflammation and Immunity, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that provides an unprecedented view inside an individual's gut, to identify which drug will be most effective in treating the disease. Historically, it would take a pathologist an hour to analyze a sample of tissue to derive this information. With AI, it takes under a minute. Innovative research is one reason that Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease Institute has earned an international reputation for excellence in the treatment of highly complex IBD. Cleveland Clinic is one of the few medical centers in the world able to provide seamless care for patients with IBD throughout all stages of life.