This recent article shows that researchers have found a unique type of immune cell lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) that may contribute to multiple sclerosis. Now you may be thinking why this is important for Crohn’s patients. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease like Crohn’s . I could only find one FDA approved drug that Crohn’s patients and MS both have in common (Tysbari) . However, TNF inhibitors like Remicade and Humira in rare cases can cause MS which is interesting since they are both autoimmune disorders. A trial that ended in this 2007 showed that daclizumab helped patients with multiple sclerosis.
Bibiana Bielekova M.D. found that MS patients who took daclizumab had reduced inflammation and those patients who didn’t take daclizumab had a more LTi cells. What is interesting is that in the research daclizumab can steer the body away from LTi cells. Daclizumab is like Remicade in that it administered intravenously. Although, the only real use for this drug has been for kidney transplants.
What is really unknown is what causes Crohn's. Although we now know more about the disease we really have no idea what causes it which make it harder to treat. With more research and development of new drugs I am know progress will be made to help people who are most troubled by it.