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problems that may be related to their IBD, such as vision problems or arthritis.” Typically diagnosed in young adults, IBD is believed to result from a combination of genetic, environmental and possibly dietary factors. For reasons that remain unclear, the body’s own immune system turns on the gastrointestinal tract, attack- ing the protective lining and triggering an inflammatory response. In ulcerative colitis, the inflammation is confined to the colon and frequently also involves the rectum. In contrast, the inflammation of Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, and tends to move from one location to another. “At UH, we take a multidisciplinary approach to these diseases,” says Dahlia Awais, MD, a board-certified gastroen- terologist with the UH Digestive Health Institute Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. “As gastroenterologists, we work closely with the radiologists to determine the severity and extent of disease. We also work with gastrointestinal pathologists and colorectal surgeons and have access to a support team of dermatologists, rheumatologists and nutritionists. We believe that we can offer the highest level of patient care by working as a team.” Because IBD can wax and wane in severity over a patient’s lifetime, the integrated specialists of UH Digestive Health Institute offer both acute and long-term management for all stages of these diseases. Services include advanced endoscopic and nonendoscopic imaging techniques to accurately assess disease location and severity; state-of-the-art treatments, including advanced immu- nomodulator and biologic therapies to both control disease and prevent disease complications; and minimally invasive sur- gical interventions to provide temporary or long-term disease management. Ongoing IBD research at UH also offers patients access to the latest treatments through participation in clinical trials. Medical Interventions for IBD The symptoms of IBD tend to come and go and can range from diarrhea to abdomi- nal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever Colorectal surgeon Sharon Stein, MD, is surgical director of the UH Digestive Health Institute Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. MDNEWS.COM JULY-AUGUST 2011 MD NEWS Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 15 PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS CASE MEDICAL CENTER