Crohn's Disease - Research

Research

The Crohn's Allogeneic Transplant Study's investigation team of Seattle is currently undergoing a Phase 2 clinical trial to cure Crohn's disease, involving bone marrow transplant, noting that cases in which bone marrow transplant had been done for a secondary purpose effectively cured the patient of Crohn's.

Researchers at University College London have questioned the wisdom of suppressing the immune system in Crohn's, as the problem may be an underactive rather than an overactive immune system: Their study found that Crohn's patients showed an abnormally low response to an introduced infection, marked by a poor flow of blood to the wound, and the response improved when the patients were given sildenafil citrate.

Recent studies using helminthic therapy or hookworms to treat Crohn's Disease and other (non-viral) auto-immune diseases seem to yield promising results.

Numerous preclinical studies demonstrate that activation of the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors exert biological functions on the gastrointestinal tract. Activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors in animals has shown a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Cannabinoids and/or modulation of the endocannabinoid system is a novel therapeutic means for the treatment of numerous GI disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease.

• Methotrexate is a folate anti-metabolite drug that is also used for chemotherapy. It is useful in maintenance of remission for those no longer taking corticosteroids.
• Metronidazole and ciprofloxacin are antibiotics used to treat Crohn's that have colonic or perianal involvement, although, in the United States, this use has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are also used for treatment of complications, including abscesses and other infections accompanying Crohn's disease.
• Thalidomide has shown response in reversing endoscopic evidence of disease.