Inflammatory Bowel Disease encompasses ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and Crohn’s colitis. These are chronic disorders which primarily affect young patients (15-40 years of age), but may also occur earlier or later in life. There are approximately 2 million patients with IBD in the United States, with 30,000 new cases diagnosed yearly. There is a clustering of patients in large urban areas.  5-8% of patients with Crohn’s disease and 15% of patients with ulcerative colitis require major abdominal surgery. Primary Care Physicians (internists, and generalists) do not have a high degree of comfort in dealing with IBD and usually refer their patients to gastroenterologists and surgeons, for consultation and continuing management. IBD patients frequently require a variety of diagnostic studies, including endoscopy and radiologic imaging procedures. Although most patients are treated in an outpatient setting, more severe patients require hospitalization.

The Krancer IBD center, located at Hahnemann University Hospital, was established by the generous support of Mr. Ronald Krancer, a trustee of the Polly Annenburg Levee Charitable trust. The center's initial emphasis was on basic research and it is presently a highly regarded testing site, under the direction of S.N.S. Murthy Ph.D., for new and novel drugs for the treatment of IBD. Research is also directed toward understanding the cause and the development of cancer in chronic colitis. Support is also derived from the National Institute of Health (NIH), pharmaceutical companies, and private donations. The Krancer center, under the direction of Harris M. Clearfield, M.D., offers a full range of consultative and support services.

For further information regarding the Krancer center for IBD, please call 215-762-8101.