Crohn's Research
Recently I've been reading and re-reading the available research relating to Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis aka MAP and Crohn's. It occurred to me last night that I should post a link to this article, as I found it particularly interesting.
On the Action of 5-Amino-Salicylic Acid and Sulfapyridine on M. avium including Subspecies paratuberculosis.
A brief background and summary:
In recent years, MAP has been implicated as a causative agent of Crohn's disease (and to a lesser extent Ulcerative Colitis and IBS). This theory has met with considerable resistance from the western medical community. Some of the "gold standards" of treatment in these diseases include sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), 5-ASA (mesalamine: Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, Mesasal, Salofalk), 6-MP (purinethiol), and methotrexate. These drugs were adopted because of their antiinflammatory or immunosuppresive effects. This resulted from the school of thought that classified IBDs as autoimmune diseases, and treatment centered on suppressing immune response and/or reducing inflammation directly.
What this study shows is that the "gold standard" drugs for IBDs have antibiotic effects against MAP, and that the medical community may have been (unknowingly) treating MAP infections in patients with IBDs. This particular article focuses on sulfasalazine and 5-ASA, while a previous study by the same investigator focused on 6-MP and methotrexate.
Any thoughts? Comments?
On the Action of 5-Amino-Salicylic Acid and Sulfapyridine on M. avium including Subspecies paratuberculosis.
A brief background and summary:
In recent years, MAP has been implicated as a causative agent of Crohn's disease (and to a lesser extent Ulcerative Colitis and IBS). This theory has met with considerable resistance from the western medical community. Some of the "gold standards" of treatment in these diseases include sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), 5-ASA (mesalamine: Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, Mesasal, Salofalk), 6-MP (purinethiol), and methotrexate. These drugs were adopted because of their antiinflammatory or immunosuppresive effects. This resulted from the school of thought that classified IBDs as autoimmune diseases, and treatment centered on suppressing immune response and/or reducing inflammation directly.
What this study shows is that the "gold standard" drugs for IBDs have antibiotic effects against MAP, and that the medical community may have been (unknowingly) treating MAP infections in patients with IBDs. This particular article focuses on sulfasalazine and 5-ASA, while a previous study by the same investigator focused on 6-MP and methotrexate.
Any thoughts? Comments?