An article in " The Lancet ", signed by British researchers at University College London, suggests that the disease of Crohn's is caused by a weak immune response and that sildenafil, the active ingredient of the impotence drug Viagra could help treat disease.
Investigated the number of neutrophils produced by Crohn's disease in response to trauma in parts of the bowel (intestinal biopsy) and skin (skin abrasion). Those affected by the disease produce less of neutrophils. They also measured blood flow changes after injecting bacteria under the skin. In healthy controls, the area of inflammation increased approximately 10 times in 24 hours. But in people with Crohn blood flow was much lower. Therefore, the authors believe could be improved blood flow in patients using sildenafil as a treatment to increase it.
Original source: DJB Marks and others. Defective acute Inflammation in Crohn's disease. Lancet 2006, 367: 668 (subscribers only).
