Predicting Clinical Response to Golimumab With Mucosal Barrier Dysfunction

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). UC is an ongoing disease of the colon or large intestine. Studies have shown that leakiness of the gut plays a major role in the development of UC. Leakiness of the gut is a condition that is a result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect its internal environment as well as to filter needed nutrients and other substances. Some bacteria, toxins, and waste not normally absorbed may get into the blood stream. Golimumab is an FDA approved medication used for the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. The investigators have evidence to suggest that measuring the leakiness of the gut using a tool called a confocal laser endomicroscope may be able to predict how well a patient's body will respond to treatment of UC with golimumab. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an FDA approved technique that can look at the cells of a patient's gut during colonoscopy to assess the leakiness of gut. The objective of this study is to determine how the leakiness of the gut in patients with UC can predict response to golimumab therapy.