Colon & Rectal Surgery at the University of Louisville -- Patient Information

"Work in Progress" Newsletter

Going Smoke-Free
Smokeless Tobacco Product as a Substitute for Cigarettes in Patients with Crohn's Disease

Can a smokeless tobacco product prove an effective substitute for cigarette smoking in Crohn's disease patients who have been unable to break free of cigarette smoking?

That is what Susan Galandiuk, MD, program director and professor, University of Louisville Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, aims to find out as a principal investigator of a pilot study funded by the Foundation for Clinical Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

"We know that smoking worsens symptoms in people who have Crohn's disease," says Galandiuk. "It also increases the risk of the recurrence of symptoms after surgery. Yet, smoking is one of the most difficult habits to quit. We hope that the results of our study will give smokers a viable tool to help them break the habit, without worsening disease symptoms."

"We are delighted to support this grant at the University of Louisville to research a new method that may help these patients quit smoking and improve their overall quality of life," said Jane Present, co-founder and executive director of the Foundation for Clinical Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The Foundation for Clinical Research in IBD awarded the grant to the University of Louisville Research Foundation on August 23, 2006.

For more information about the study, contact the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery's Research Coordinator, Anna Williford, RN, at (502) 583-0880 or email her.

The Foundation for Clinical Research in IBD is a non-profit organization that sponsors clinical research into inflammatory bowel disease and its treatments and offers patients and their families support through education. To learn more about the Foundation for Clinical Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, visit its Web site at www.myibd.org.

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