Crohn’s disease is a complex inflammatory condition of the intestine with genetic, environmental, and immune components. While therapies manage symptoms, there is no cure, and patients experience periods of remission and relapse. Pediatric Crohn’s disease can have life-long consequences such as growth failure or delayed puberty, often requiring immunosuppressive therapy and extensive intestinal resection. However, most studies focus on adult-onset Crohn’s disease, leaving pediatric Crohn’s relatively understudied.
This study aimed to identify differences in the small intestinal microbiota of pediatric patients with controlled Crohn’s disease. Researchers compared these patients to those undergoing endoscopy without pathogenic abnormalities, using 16S rRNA sequencing and other advanced techniques. The study found that microbial dysbiosis persisted even during remission, with decreased microbial diversity and specific changes in bacterial taxa. Additionally, controlled Crohn’s disease was associated with increased epithelial integrity and decreased intraepithelial lymphocytes. This suggests that current therapies do not fully resolve the underlying microbial imbalances, highlighting dysbiosis as a potential therapeutic target.
Reference: Pierce R, Jan NJ, Kumar P, Middleton J, Petri WA, Marie C. Persistent dysbiosis of duodenal microbiota in patients with controlled pediatric Crohn’s disease after resolution of inflammation. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):12668. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-63299-y.
