Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) describes several disorders that cause chronic inflammation of your digestive tract. Those are celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, microscopic colitis and ulcerative colitis. People with IBD experience symptoms ranging from abdominal discomfort to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding and unintentional weight loss, affecting or reducing quality of life.
With IBD, you may alternate between active symptoms followed by times of remission. Inflammatory bowel disease is a challenging condition, but we can help. At The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, we established the first and only multidisciplinary IBD clinic of its kind in the state of Kansas. This allows a multidisciplinary team of inflammatory bowel disease specialists to provide integrated care.
What is IBD?
Inflammatory bowel disease affects about 1.6 million Americans. For some, IBD causes just mild symptoms, but for others, the condition is more severe and interferes with daily living and enjoyment of life.
IBD occurs when a dysregulation in the immune system causes inflammation and damage to the digestive system’s lining. Inflammatory bowel disease can also affect other body parts, causing oral ulcers or lesions, skin lesions, eye problems, joint pain or anemia.
We offer a variety of appointment types. Learn more or call 913-588-1227 to schedule now.
Types of IBD
IBD may present in several forms.
Celiac disease is a genetic condition that results in small bowel inflammation after eating wheat or foods that contain gluten. Experts estimate about 2 million people in the US have celiac disease, but many have not been diagnosed. Symptoms of celiac disease include abdominal pain, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, joint pain, nausea and weight loss.
Untreated celiac disease can lead to many other conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, liver failure and migraine. Treatment is a gluten-free diet. However, some types of celiac disease may require additional specialized treatment.
Crohn's disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, but most commonly involves the small intestine. Inflammation caused by Crohn’s disease can lead to abdominal pain and ulcers, anal fissures, diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss. Crohn’s disease can lead to more serious conditions like a bowel obstruction, fistula and colon cancer.
There are many treatment options for Crohn’s disease, generally aimed at reducing inflammation and suppressing the immune system. Surgical procedures may also be used.
Microscopic colitis is inflammation in the colon, also called the large intestine, that can be seen under a microscope. Symptoms of microscopic colitis are watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps or bloating, weight loss, nausea and not being able to control bowel movements, called fecal incontinence. These symptoms can lead to dehydration.
Microscopic colitis can be treated with lifestyle changes like diet modification and switching medications to avoid ones that trigger symptoms. It can also be treated with medication to suppress the immune system, block bile acids or treat diarrhea. In rare cases surgery may be needed.
Ulcerative colitis usually causes inflammation and ulcers in the large intestine and rectum. It is the most common type of inflammatory bowel disease. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis are like other forms of IBD, but it can also cause stools with blood or mucus, stomach cramping with bowel movements, feelings of urgency to have a bowel movement and not being able to pass stool despite urgency.
Ulcerative colitis is usually treated with medications or surgical procedures.
IBD symptoms and risks
While the exact causes of inflammatory bowel disease are unknown, it is important to recognize the risk factors. IBD affects men and women equally and tends to run in families.
It is important to meet with an experienced IBD specialist to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Inflammatory bowel disease experts evaluate patients with chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain to identify possible IBD. They will run a series of investigations to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.
You should visit your healthcare provider and IBD specialist if you have:
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- An urgent need to have a bowel movement or the feeling that a bowel movement is incomplete
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Eye problems
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Oral problems
- Rectal bleeding
- Skin lesions or redness
- Weight loss
IBD diagnosis and screening
Before testing, you'll receive a thorough physical and your doctor will ask for a detailed medical history. Your doctor may also order a blood draw to check your red and white blood cell counts. A high white blood cell count is a sign of inflammatory bowel disease. Other tests may include a stool culture, an upper endoscopy, a colonoscopy or a biopsy of your colon. You may be asked to swallow a tiny camera capsule that will help us capture images along your entire digestive tract.
The IBD experts at The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City collaborate as a team to provide comprehensive, coordinated care. Leading the first and only multidisciplinary IBD clinic of its kind in the state of Kansas, our doctors work together to accurately diagnose patients and create individualized treatment plans.
IBS or IBD?
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IBD treatment
Our team offers a complete range of medical, surgical and complementary treatment options depending upon your individual goals and disease progression. We treat not only IBD itself, but also the related symptoms and challenges that show the disease is affecting other parts of the body. We treat every person holistically.
Beyond ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, our experts treat:
- Autoimmune enteropathy
- Bowel stricture
- Chronic diarrhea
- Colitis
- Eosinophilic gastroenteritis
- Fistula
- Peri-anal abscess
- Peri-anal fistula
- Proctitis
- Rectal bleeding
- Short bowel syndrome or short gut syndrome
We also offer education and support for ostomy care and reversal.
Our infusion center provides expertise and convenience for patients receiving infusions for IBD treatment. Your infusion will be administered at one of our health system locations, but subsequent infusions can be received in your home for your ease and comfort.
Why choose us for IBD care
As the teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Kansas Medical Center, our team is involved in research and clinical trials. We hope these will yield additional treatments and even a cure for inflammatory bowel disease. Our patients can often participate in clinical trials not available elsewhere.
Our IBD specialists are among the nation’s leaders in providing comprehensive care for this chronic disease and its complications. We deliver treatment with skill and compassion. We build relationships that support you through all phases of medical, surgical and complementary care.
IBD Center of Excellence
The University of Kansas Health System offers you the combined experience of a multidisciplinary team at our IBD center of excellence, the first and only one of its kind in the state of Kansas. This means we bring together specialists from different disciplines to work together, sharing their viewpoints and collaborating on personalized care plans. Those specialists include:
- Gastroenterologists
- Colorectal surgeons
- Dietitians
- Psychologists
- Pharmacists
- Infusion specialists
We provide inflammatory bowel disease specialty care at 2 convenient locations.
The Medical Pavilion located at 2000 Olathe Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas.
The University of Kansas Health System Indian Creek Campus located at 10700 Nall Ave., Overland Park, Kansas.
Find a doctor
Doctors at The University of Kansas Health System are care providers and researchers at the forefront of new medical discoveries. From primary care to complex conditions, we offer hundreds of specialists.
IBD resources and support
These organizations provide resources to help you learn more about inflammatory bowel disease and related conditions.