An abstract published by Jochen Klaus , Ulrike Spaniol , Guido Adler , Richard A Mason , Max Reinshagen and Christian von Tirpitz C published in BMC Gastroenterology investigates how bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine can mimic acute flare ups in peopel with Crohns Disease.

Background

The latest study by Dr. Marcel A. Behr, of the Research Institute of the MUHC and McGill University, has provided new insight into the curious mutation of NOD2 gene, a mutation that is found in 25% of Crohn's disease patients. It is not precisely known how this mutation influences the disease.

In a recent study published online in the latest edition of the journal PLoS ONE, scientists believe they've identified one of the environmental risk factors that cause the terrible Crohn's Disease (CD), about which very little is currently known.

"When the digestive immune system's counter-attack is insufficient to clear the threat," Ms. Villani continued, "there is a bacterial infiltration in the intestinal wall through the first line of defense mechanisms.

The digestive immune system will again try to repel the threat, but the effort may not be sufficient, and this usually leads to a vicious cycle that results in chronic inflammation in the intestinal wall. And that is Crohn's Disease."

Researchers at McGill University, Canada, have discovered DNA variations in a gene that increases susceptibility to developing Crohn's Disease.

Their study was published in the January issue of the Journal Nature Genetics.