DECODE Biologic-Describing the Consequences of Delays in Biologic initiation Study

This study plans to learn more about the usage and effect of biologic medications with patients that have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD includes both Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), which currently affects around 1.5 million Americans. Medical therapies for IBD focus on reducing the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract to improve symptoms and begin mucosal healing. Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF) is a type of protein that can increase inflammation. Higher amounts of TNF are found in people with IBD. Biologic medications directed against Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (Anti-TNFs) have been shown to target the TNFs to improve the course of IBD.

Subjects will be consented and enrolled by Penn study staff either in-person through the GI clinic or via telephone, using an IRB approved telephone script. Only individuals greater than or equal to 18 years of age with a documented diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease (CD) or Ulcerative Colitis (UC) who have initiated new biologic therapy will be considered eligible for inclusion.