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| Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center |
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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects an estimated 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds. This painful disorder of the digestive tract can cause symptoms ranging from relatively mild to very serious, and treatment can range from medication and dietary changes to surgery. In some cases, the disease can recur multiple times and become a life-threatening condition.
IBD comprises two main types, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both diseases are chronic disorders that cause inflammation and ulceration of the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis occurs only in the colon, while Crohn's, commonly seen in the small intestine and colon, can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus.
Although there’s no definitive cause for inflammatory bowel disease, researchers believe a combination of genetics, alterations in the immune system, and environmental factors contribute to the disease.
Unlike irritable bowel syndrome, which can trigger similar symptoms such as pain, bloating and gas, inflammatory bowel disease causes serious inflammation, ulcers, abcesses and internal bleeding, significantly affecting quality of life. Patients can also become malnourished due to poor absorption of nutrients.
Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease may include: abdominal pain, frequent diarrhea that may contain blood or pus, fever, chills, weight loss, and fatigue.
Our Center
To provide superior treatment options to patients, UCSD’s Division of Gastroenterology developed the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. Led by Dr. Michael Docherty, an expert in the treatment of complicated cases of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the center offers state-of-the-art care for people with all levels of inflammatory bowel disease.
Dr. Docherty is working to raise awareness of the disease, as well as give patients new hope in the form of cutting-edge medications and surgical procedures. “A regular gastroenterologist can treat mild cases, but in more severe cases, you have to be really up-to-date," Docherty explains. "It’s really a sub-specialty of gastroenterology to be an inflammatory bowel disease specialist.”
The center, which has locations at Thornton Hospital and UCSD Medical Center - Hillcrest, also hosts a variety of clinical trials, as well as a database of current and past patients and their treatment histories. This database, which is continually expanding, will help researchers track successful therapies and improve treatment options in the future.
Center Physicians
- Michael Docherty, M.D., Asst. Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSD Division of Gastroenterology
- Derek Patel, M.D., Asst. Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSD Division of Gastroenterology
- Sonia Ramamoorthy, M.D., Asst. Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSD Division of Gastroenterology
- Mark Talamini, M.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSD Division of Gastroenterology
Read Dr. Mark Talamini's sample patient consultation on surgery for Crohn's disease
Contact us
For an appointment, to refer a patient, or for more information about the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, contact Jennifer Pulido at (858) 657-8381.
Division of Gastroenterology
UCSD Medical Center, Hillcrest
200 West Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 543-2347 |