Understanding the Importance of the Microbiome and Metabolome in IBD Patients

The study is aim to detect common microbial profiles and metabolic pathways in patients belonging to the following groups:

1. Therapy naïve newly diagnosed Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and pouchitis patients. Studying this group of patients will enable the detection of microbial profiles associated with disease onset.
2. Patients planned to commence biological therapy (with or without IBD). Studying this group of patients will enable the detection of microbial profiles associated with response to biological therapy.
3. IBD patients in complete remission (treated or untreated with biologics). Following this group of patients will enable the detection of microbial profiles associated with disease exacerbation.

Methods:

Study design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: The investigators will prospectively collect clinical, behavioral and environmental data of patients participating in the study. Data will be collected according to a uniform standardized protocol specifically adapted to the needs of the study and shared between the collaborators.

Study population: Eligible patients, who sign an informed consent form and answer to all the study inclusion criteria. Patients will be informed of the study by their treating physician, recruited and followed throughout the follow-up period by study coordinators.