Decreased Enteric Bacterial Composition and Diversity in South American Crohn's Disease Vary With the Choice of Treatment Strategy and Time Since Diagnosis

摘要

Background and Aims: The symptomology of Crohn's disease [CD], a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract, correlates poorly with clinical, endoscopic or immunological assessments of disease severity. The prevalence of CD in South America is rising, reflecting changes in socioeconomic stability. Many treatment options are available to CD patients, including biological agents and corticosteroids, each of which offers variable efficacy attributed to host genetics and environmental factors associated with alterations in the gut microbiota.