Study on genetic factors in the pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Gathering a matched control population

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclarified.
However, it has become clear that luminal antigens trigger a chronic
inflammatory reaction in a genetically susceptible host. For one of the two
currently distinguished clinical phenotypes of IBD, Crohn*s disease (CD),
genetic risk factor have been identified. These polymorphisms are only found is
a minority of the patients. Therefore our group has collected a IBD-DNA bank
over the last years. To compare allele and genotype frequencies that our found
in this DNA-bank we are in need of a well-matched control-DNA cohort. Partners
of IBD patient could form such a controle group since they are exposed to the
same environmental factors, most often share the same social-economic
background and most often are members of the same etnic group. An alternative
test for disease association can be done by transmission disequilibruim testing
(TDT) for which DNA of parents of IBD patient is needed.

The objective of the study is to gather as many DNA samples of partners of IBD
patients and parents of adult IBD patients as possible. By assessing allele and
genotype frequencies in IBD patients and the control cohort, novel genetic risk
factors may be identified. These association can be confirmed by transmission
disequilibruim testing. Identification of genetic risk factors provide new
insights in the pathogenesis of IBD.

Parents and partners of adult IBD patients will be asked to donate blood for
DNA isolation following informed consent. Blood donation will consist of 14 ml
EDTA blood. DNA extraction out of white blood cells will be performed by
standard DNA extraction techniques. DNA samples will be stored anonimiously at
4 degrees celsius

Negligible