The evolution of inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) is more or less serious.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a new test which reliably predicts the course of inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease – collectively referred to as “inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)” – are chronic conditions that lead to inflammation of the intestine. They are manifested in particular by abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue.
Heavy side effects
There is currently no cure, but an increasing number of drugs are able to relieve symptoms and prevent the disease from returning. The more severe the pathology, the stronger the drugs must be, which triggers heavy side effects.
The scientists worked with a cohort of 69 patients with Crohn’s disease. “Using simple technology available in almost every hospital, our test identifies a biomarker that can identify patients who are likely to have mild IBD and those who will have more severe disease” , explains Dr. James Lee, director of the study.
Customize treatment
“This is important because it could allow doctors to personalize the treatment they give to each patient. unpleasant side effects. But if a patient is likely to have a more aggressive form of the disease, evidence suggests that the sooner we can start giving them the best treatments available, the better we can manage their condition.” he continues. His new test is 90% reliable. It is being developed by the company PredictImmune.
Although their frequency varies considerably from one country to another, the highest rates of IBD are found in industrialized countries, particularly in North-Western Europe and the United States. In France, about 5 new cases of Crohn’s disease and as many ulcerative colitis are diagnosed each year per 100,000 inhabitants. On the other hand, the prevalence is increasing exponentially in countries undergoing industrialization (Maghreb countries, Asia, South Africa, etc.).*
*Source: Inserm.
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