Although there are some treatments available to help aid in the management of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, there is currently no cure. It isn’t clear as to what causes Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, but researchers are now closer to having a better understanding of its genetic link to inflammatory bowel disease.
Genetic link found in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
The researchers of the study looked at the genomes of nearly 68,000 people. After a closer look at the regions of the genome associated with IBD, 18 were traced to a single genetic variant with over 95 percent certainty.
Co-author of the study, Dr. Jeffrey Barrett, explained, “We have taken the biggest ever data set for IBD and applied careful statistics to narrow down to the individual genetic variants involved. Now we have a clearer picture of which genes do and do not play a role in the disease. We are zooming in on the genetic culprits of IBD.”
Uncovering the genes responsible for inflammatory bowel disease could improve treatment by better-targeted medications.
Current treatments for inflammatory bowel disease include steroids, immunosuppressants, or anti-inflammatory medications. Although these treatments are not a cure, they do help manage symptoms and slow down disease progression. If medications are not effective, surgery may be required, which works to remove heavily diseased areas of the intestine.
Inflammatory bowel disease affects nearly 1.6 million Americans, with the majority of patients being diagnosed before the age of 35.