Researchers Learn More About Origins and Treatment Options

for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

For the more than 600,000 Americans who struggle with ongoing gastrointestinal pain and discomfort, inflammatory bowel disease is no laughing matter. Those diagnosed with this disorder regularly suffer from troubling symptoms such as diarrhea, cramping, bloating, bleeding, and weight fluctuations.

For IBD sufferers, even the simple act of eating a favorite meal can suddenly trigger a painful attack. Despite decades of dedicated research, the exact causes of the disease remain unknown to scientists, so the development of a universally effective treatment plan has proven to be an elusive challenge.

Although several prescription drug regimens have been introduced to help those diagnosed with IBD cope with their symptoms, complete alleviation of all IBD-related discomfort is rare. For most patients, a diagnosis of IBD can result in a lifetime of chronic gastrointestinal pain that can hinder their ability to function independently and significantly hamper quality of life.

Scientists around the world remain focused on the challenge of uncovering more information about inflammatory bowel disease. This week, we'll review a few of the most promising findings from this field.

Recent Study May Signal a Breakthrough in IBD Treatment

Despite years of research, the search for an effective pharmacological treatment for inflammatory bowel disease and its most severe form, Crohn's disease, has long been unsuccessful. However, according to the results of a recent study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, a new treatment protocol based on the drug Infliximab has shown significant promise.

According to the Italian research team that led the study, a treatment method based on Infliximab has many of the same benefits and none of the long-term side effects associated with corticosteroids, the long-time standard treatment method for IBD sufferers. The study demonstrated that scheduled doses of Infliximab can induce and maintain a long-term state of remission with none of the flare-ups that are often observed in patients being treated with corticosteroids. In addition, none of the major negative health impacts of extended corticosteroid use were observed in the patients treated with Infliximab.

There are some documented health concerns associated with the new treatment regimen, including a concern that opportunistic infections and autoimmune reactions could develop with extended use. However, the researchers remain optimistic that these findings could hold promise for millions of IBD sufferers worldwide.

Researchers Recommend Revised Criteria for IBD Surgery

For patients with severe forms of inflammatory bowel disease, surgical removal of selected sections of the colon is a frequently used form of treatment. Although the surgery has a lasting impact on the patient's gastroenterological function, it sometimes represents the only effective way to quell the inflammation and chronic pain that can hinder the health and well-being of IBD patients.

Traditionally, the selection criteria used to determine which IBD patients should be considered for partial colon removal have been quite strict. Because the surgery is a drastic measure that impacts the entire digestive system, doctors usually reserved the procedure for only the most severely impacted patients.

However, according to the results of a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, the current standards of determining who should qualify for the surgery may be overly stringent. The researchers found that many patients who do not fit the currently accepted criteria could potentially benefit from the procedure.

They found that patients who underwent elective colon surgery had improved longevity, less chronic pain, and better quality of life than their counterparts who either did not undergo the surgery, or who were forced to have emergency surgery as the result of a severe flare-up. As a result of these findings, the researchers recommended a large-scale reassessment of current surgery qualification procedures.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Shares a Genetic Link with Arthritis

A great deal of recent research activity has been directed towards the challenge of uncovering the origins of inflammatory bowel disease. In hopes of developing preventive treatments, scientists have sought to pinpoint the genetic components of IBD.

One significant breakthrough was recently achieved by a team of Icelandic researchers at Landspitali University Hospital. In the midst of conducting a genetic case study of the disease among the small nation's population, it was found that inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis often clustered together in family groups.

However, although this finding does represent an important step forward in IBD research, it creates almost as many questions as it answers. The researchers confirmed the importance of moving forward with further investigation into the genetic components of IBD and possible gene therapies based on the findings.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, it's important to work closely with a skilled medical team to ensure optimal treatment. Be sure to check back each week for more of the health science news that matters to you.