Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are unpredictable, chronic conditions characterized by inflammation in the intestines. The most common symptoms in children include frequent diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss or growth delay.

There is no cure for IBD, so the focus of treatment is on controlling the inflammation that causes the symptoms. Corticosteroids are frequently used, and they often have negative side effects such as weight gain, acne, hair growth, irritability, depression, emotional ability, and sleep difficulty.

As IBD can result in sometimes embarrassing symptoms, the disease presents many potential challenges to psychosocial adjustment.

Investigators are examining the effects current treatments have of IBD patients, while searching for alternative treatments.  They are also investigating how IBD patients adjust behaviorally, emotionally and socially to their disease and how psychosocial factors impact symptom severity.

Faculty Focused on IBD Research

• Brendan M. Boyle, MD
• Ryan S. Carvalho, MD
• Wallace V. Crandall, MD
• Jennifer L. Dotson, MD
• Sandra C. Kim, MD
• Laura Mackner, PhD

Latest Findings in IBD Research

Role of Gender in the Treatment and Clinical Outcomes of Pediatric IBD Patients
This study found no significant gender differences in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients in terms of disease severity, BMI, height velocity, or medication use. The data does not support the use of gender as major factor in patient risk stratification for children with IBD.

Access an abstract of this study: Role of Gender in the Treatment and Clinical Outcomes of Pediatric Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2012 Jun 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Gender Differences in Social Functioning Among Adolescents with IBD
This study investigates the difference in social functioning between adolescent males and adolescent female with inflammatory bowel disease.

Access an abstract of this study: Gender Differences in the Social Functioning of Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2012 Mar 10. [Epub ahead of print]

Academic achievement, attendance, and school-related quality of life in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.
This study found that adolescents with IBD are at risk for school difficulty, and demographic and psychosocial factors are better predictors than disease factors. Interventions aimed at improving behavioral/emotional problems may improve school functioning.

Access an abstract of this study: Academic Achievement, Attendance, and School-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2012 Jan 19. [Epub ahead of print

Utility of Screening for Chronic Granulomatous Disease in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The frequency of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) carriers among those with chronic colitis/inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. This study concludes that routine screening for CGD was not instructive in this cohort of chronic colitis or IBD patients.

Access an abstract of this study:  Utility of Screening for Chronic Granulomatous Disease in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Clin Immunol. 2011 Nov 17. [Epub ahead of print]

Current IBD Grants

A Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label , Parallel-Group, Multicenter Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficaacy of Infliximab (Remicade) in Pediatric Subjects with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis, Centicore, Inc. (Wallace V. Crandall)

A Multicenter, Double-Blind Study to Evaluate the Safety, Efficacy and Pharmacokinetics of the Human Anti TNF Monoclonal Antibody Adlimumab in Pediatric Subjects with Moderate to Severe Crohn’s Disease, Abbot Labs (Wallace V. Crandall)

Social Functioning in Adolescent Chronic Illness, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (Laura Mackner)

Depression, Cytokines, and Cortisol in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, The Broad Foundation (Laura Mackner)

Inflammation and Depression in Pediatric IBD, Wolfe Foundation (Laura Mackner and Wallace V. Crandall)