CONTROLLED TRIAL OF ANTITUBERCULOUS CHEMOTHERAPY IN CROHNS-DISEASE - A 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Background-It has been suggested that Mycobacterium paratuberculosis i s the cause of Crohn's disease. In a previous report the immediate eff ect of two years treatment with antituberculous chemotherapy showed no clinical benefit. Aims T-assess both the immediate and longer term ef fect of treatment on the disease. Methods-Patients were followed for f ive years from their date of entry to the study. One hundred and thirt y patients entered the initial study, and of these 111 (81%) were foll owed regularly. Results-Overall, there was no evidence of consistent b enefit or disadvantage from antituberculous chemotherapy in any of the assessments made, including the number of acute relapses, surgical ep isodes, hospital admissions, disease activity, blood tests, or medicat ion required for Crohn's disease during the follow up period. Conclusi on-The absence of any benefit at the end of the initial two year trial period, and during the three year subsequent follow up, fails to supp ort the hypothesis that mycobacteria play an important part in the pat hogenesis of Crohn's disease, or that antituberculous chemotherapy may be of benefit.