Perspectives

Bacteroides Levels Crucial in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Sep 22 2009
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Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) are two common chronic intestinal disorders that come under the umbrella of inflammatory bowel disease or IBD as it is more commonly referred to. Recently, a number of studies have shown an association between high mucosal or fecal levels of Bacteroides and active UC and CD. ^{1, 2} There is evidence on a number of levels that intestinal bacteria play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IBD, namely;

• Patients with IBD have been shown to exhibit a high antibody response to bacterial antigens ³

• Antibiotics have been shown to have therapeutic benefit in IBD patients ^{4, 5}

• Bacteria have been shown to be necessary for the initiation and perpetuation of chronic inflammation in various animal models ^6-8

• Animal studies indicate that it is not the presence of intestinal microflora per se, but rather the incidence of certain bacteria that seems to be of particular importance ⁹

• Experiments in rats with induced experimental colitis suggest the involvement of anaerobic bacteria ^{10, 11}

These series of studies seems to confirm most clinicians’ hypothesis that resident bacterial flora of the large intestine are an essential component in the pathogenesis of IBD.

In accordance with the research highlighted above, at Diagnostic Insight, we have seen anecdotal evidence that IBD may be associated with abnormalities in predominant intestinal bacteria such as Bacteroides.

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