Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center Is Launched

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital has established a comprehensive center for diagnosing and treating inflammatory bowel disease. The Jefferson Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center provides care for people with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, collagenous colitis and microscopic colitis. New treatments utilizing proven investigational drugs and drug programs are available for patients who have failed conventional therapy. The Acting Director of the Center is Franz Goldstein, MD, Professor of Medicine and a nationally renowned clinician and researcher on inflammatory bowel disorders.

"We are fortunate that someone of Dr. Goldstein's stature is devoting his interest and time to the Center," says Anthony J. DiMarino Jr., MD, Director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. "The other members of our team also bring years of experience, giving us more expertise in inflammatory bowel disease than any other hospital in the area." Since there is no labeled, approved drug treatment for Crohn's disease, accept for steroids to get patients through acute crises, many physicians are afraid to prescribe effective drugs. The existence of so many clinical variants further complicates recognition and effective treatment.

"There are an estimated one to two million people in the United States who suffer from inflammatory bowel diseases. Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are potentially devastating, life-threatening diseases, and require a lot of attention. There is no simple dietary or surgical solution," says Dr. Goldstein. The average patient with Crohn's disease goes two to three years before a proper diagnosis is made because many physicians often are not familiar with the symptomatology which can be subtle and crosses many departmental lines.

The Center's 20 physicians include experts from the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, as well as general and colorectal surgery. Specialists in radiology, pathology, genetics, nutrition and other disciplines provide consultation. A psychiatrist assists in helping patients cope with this unpredictable and sometimes frightening chronic illness, which can affect the skin, bones and eyes as well as the urinary tract, bowels and liver.

Dr. Goldstein has been affiliated with Jefferson for the last 40 years. He was awarded a mastership from the American College of Gastroenterology and has authored more than 130 articles. Responsible for many "firsts" in the field, Dr. Goldstein was nominated by colleagues as one of the "Best Doctors in the Northeast" for inflammatory bowel disease, along with three other physicians at the Center - four more physicians in this specialty than at any other Philadelphia hospital.

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center offers one-time evaluation, second opinions and long-term maintenance treatment. It is located in the Main Building, 132 South 10th Street, Suite 480. For further information or to make an appointment, call 5-1700 or 1-800-JEFF-NOW.