Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. Tiffany Linville Leads Efforts in Innovations for Pediatric IBD Treatment

Dr. Tiffany Linville, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Atrium Health Levine Children’s, is at the forefront of enhancing pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care for young patients suffering from Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Handling cases of Ulcerative Colitis, which inflames the colon, and Crohn’s disease, causing digestive tract inflammation, Dr. Linville is deeply invested in improving these children’s quality of life.

Dr. Linville points out that IBD significantly impacts kids’ lives, leading to missed school days, extracurricular activities, and disruptions to family gatherings. Sleep deprivation, dietary restrictions, and social isolation due to the ’embarrassing’ symptoms further compound their struggles.

As the board president of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Carolinas Chapter, Dr. Linville actively contributes to advancing pediatric IBD care beyond her patient interactions.

Advanced therapies for pediatric IBD have drastically expanded in the past decade, offering diverse treatment options. From oral medications to injectables and IV infusions, these treatments have notably increased effectiveness rates.

Linville stresses the shift towards minimizing the use of steroids like prednisone due to associated long-term effects, emphasizing the goal of remission with improved treatment options.

In the last ten years, pediatric IBD research has yielded ten new medications with varying mechanisms of action, leading to significant remission rate improvements, now reaching nearly 85%.

Dr. Linville outlines that remission goals include both clinical and endoscopic benchmarks, with regular evaluations and monitoring to ensure sustained remission outcomes for patients.

Collaborative care at Levine Children’s involving gastroenterologists, dietitians, psychologists, and social workers has been pivotal in delivering holistic care and enhancing the quality of life for pediatric IBD patients.

Psychological support, support groups, and a multidisciplinary approach have played key roles in improving outcomes and coping mechanisms for patients and their families.

Leveraging the advancements and collaborative efforts, Dr. Linville remains optimistic about the future of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease care, noting the significant strides made towards enhanced treatment options and quality of life improvements for young patients.