A study of pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease has found that an imbalance in the normally diverse array of microorganisms that populate the intestines is more complex than previously thought, and that different treatments affect this imbalanced, or dysbiotic, intestinal microbiome in distinct ways. The findings may point to new avenues for the development of individualized microbial-targeted therapies for these patients. The research was led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and appears in the October 14 edition of Cell Host and Microbe.
Crohn’s disease is a debilitating affliction for all patients and is estimated to affect up to 80,000 children in the US. Pediatric patients can suffer additional problems that include stunted growth and delayed puberty, making the identification of effective treatments even more vital. Because immunosuppressant drugs can cause serious side effects, there is great interest in developing new treatments that target the microbes living in the gut. The purpose of this study was to acquire a better understanding of how gut microbes respond to different therapeutic approaches.
Read about biosimilar medication, irritable bowel disease, and children, here.
Read a news story about the research findings here.
The journal abstract may be read here.
Posted on October 15, 2015