 The metabolic response to Crohns disease, including increased proteolysis and lipolysis and changes in energy expenditure, plays a significant role in the resulting malnutrition from which these patients suffer. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNF-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, has been found to be elevated in children with ulcerative colitis. TNF-alpha has been incriminated in the mechanism of weight loss in many different chronic diseases, and causes net protein and lipid catabolism. Anti-TNF-alpha antibody infliximab has been proven to be an effective therapy for ulcerative colitis. 