Synopsis
A recent study indicates that the antibiotic vancomycin, typically used for infective diarrhoea, may be an effective treatment for a specific type of inflammatory bowel disease linked to primary sclerosing cholangitis, with significant remission rates observed in trial participants.Key Takeaways
- Vancomycin shows promise for treating IBD.
- Four out of five patients achieved remission.
- IBD and PSC have a close correlation.
- Symptoms returned after treatment stopped.
- Further research is needed on bile acid changes.
New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) An antibiotic traditionally utilized for treating infective diarrhoea shows potential as a treatment for a specific form of inflammatory bowel disease, according to a recent study.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham, UK, found that the antibiotic vancomycin may also be beneficial for individuals suffering from a particular type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) linked to an incurable autoimmune liver condition known as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).
Remarkably, four out of five patients in the study reached remission after using the medication as part of a clinical trial published in the Journal of Crohn's and Colitis.
This research is crucial, as many participants had not had success with other IBD therapies.
Furthermore, IBD and PSC are closely related, with a majority of those with PSC eventually developing IBD, and nearly 14 percent of IBD patients also acquiring PSC.
Together, these conditions heighten the necessity for colon surgery and increase the risk of colon or liver cancer, potentially necessitating a liver transplant. They also raise the overall mortality risk.
Dr. Mohammed Nabil Quraishi from the University of Birmingham stated, "Our findings indicate that vancomycin might present a novel therapeutic option for patients facing this complex combination of IBD and autoimmune liver disease."
During the clinical trial, participants received oral antibiotics for four weeks, with approximately 80 percent achieving clinical remission post-treatment.
Significant reductions in inflammatory markers were observed, and all participants exhibited mucosal healing.
However, symptoms resurfaced when the treatment was halted after eight weeks.
The study also revealed that vancomycin caused alterations in certain bile acids, which are under further investigation to enhance and refine treatments for IBD-related PSC.
Although these findings are preliminary, they lay a robust groundwork for additional research, according to the team.
