Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Multidisciplinary Care for Digestive Diseases

Our specialists treat a variety of digestive diseases with the goal of helping patients feel normal again.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the name for a group of conditions that involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common types of IBD.

UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Crohn’s and Colitis Program is the first of its kind in Texas. It features a collaborative team of gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeons, pathologists, imaging specialists, and nurses, as well as basic science researchers who continually seek new information about the nature of these diseases and new ways to improve treatment outcomes for patients.

Inflammation of the intestinal tract, which often leads to ulcers, fistulae, or obstructions, characterizes IBD. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the anus, while ulcerative colitis strikes the inner lining of the large intestine or the rectum.

Without proper management of these diseases, patients can suffer from abdominal pain, anemia, diarrhea, weight loss, malnutrition, and cancer.

Comprehensive Care for All Types of IBD

UT Southwestern Medical Center’s inflammatory bowel disease team is led by gastroenterologists who have specific expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions of the intestines, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and microscopic colitis.

Among the conditions we routinely help manage are:

Crohn’s disease, including ileal, colonic, perianal, and upper GI
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative proctitis
Intestinal strictures
Fistulas in the GI tract
Colonic dysplasia (precancerous lesions in the colon)
Pouch disorders/pouchitis
Microscopic colitis
Collagenous colitis
Lymphocytic colitis
Short bowel syndrome

We often collaborate with specialists in other areas of expertise, including colorectal surgery, radiology, liver disease, interventional endoscopy, pancreaticobiliary disease, dermatology, rheumatology, and motility disorders, in order to provide comprehensive care. To best treat our patients, we also hold regular monthly multidisciplinary case conferences to discuss particularly challenging cases. We also have several clinic trials in which we can enroll patients with IBD.

Symptoms of IBD

Symptoms of IBD can vary, depending on the type of disease, the location of the inflammation, and the individual patient. Common symptoms include:

Frequent and persistent abdominal pain
Frequent and persistent diarrhea
Rectal bleeding
Weight loss
Fatigue

IBD in Children

IBD can affect children as well as adults. UT Southwestern Pediatric Group’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center is one of the largest IBD centers in the country. We care for more than 500 children a year and provide consultations to patients throughout the world. We are also pioneers in the field – UT Southwestern research identified novel genes that play a role in early-onset IBD.

Learn more about IBD in children.

Diagnosing IBD

If our team suspects inflammatory bowel disease, we first obtain a symptom assessment and conduct a thorough physical examination. We then talk with the patient about his or her medical and family history and, depending on the examination results, might perform any of several diagnostic tests.

Endoscopic tests might include:

Colonoscopy
Upper endoscopy
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
Enteroscopy
Pouchoscopy
Chromo-endoscopy
Video capsule endoscopy

Blood and stool tests might also be performed to help confirm a diagnosis.

Treating IBD

The goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation, which can reduce symptoms. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the inflammation, the location of the inflammation, and the patient’s unique needs.

Medications that are used to treat IBD include:

Aminosalicylates: Anti-inflammatory medications that can be given either orally or rectally
Corticosteroids: Steroids that help to keep the immune system in check and reduce inflammation; while effective in the short-term, these are not recommended for long-term use
Immunomodulators: Medications that change how the immune system functions so it can no longer cause inflammation
Antibiotics: Sometimes used if an infection is also present with IBD
Therapeutic antibodies and novel small molecules: Sometimes called biologics, these new treatments help people with moderate or severe IBD

Nutritional support (also called nutritional therapy) can also be useful for patients with IBD.

Surgery is sometimes used in severe cases that do not respond to medication. Surgical treatments for IBD include:

Hand-assisted surgeries
J-Pouch procedures
Laparoscopic proctocolectomies
Laparoscopic total colectomy
Large and small bowel resection (colectomy)
Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery

Learn more about surgery for IBD.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to frequently asked questions about IBD.

Support Services

For patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, we offer a Crohn’s and Colitis Support Group. The group meets at the Outpatient Building from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the following months: September, November, January, March, May, and July. For more information and to confirm times, call 214-645-0595 or email the IBD Support Group.

Clinical Trials

Our patients have access to promising new treatments through phase II and III clinical trials and a specially trained IBD research coordinator assists them throughout their participation.