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GASTROENTEROLOGIST Mohammed Al-Ansari is bringing a cutting edge combination antibiotic to treat Crohn’s disease to Ballarat. Dr Al-Ansari has joined an international clinical study to treat the incurable inflammatory bowel condition, which can spread through the whole digestive tract. Treating Crohn’s disease can be a frustrating process. Dr Al-Ansari said there was no clear method for helping a patient and many patients could be unresponsive to treatments, likely because there was no firm cause for the disease. “One theory of causes is bacteria and that is what this antibiotic treatment will target,” Dr Al-Ansari said. “Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease. There are some genetic theories, mixed with environmental causes...antibiotics are one of the more modern treatments.” Dr Al-Ansari said Crohn’s disease symptoms varied between patients but could include one or a combination of the following: blood with stools; small intestine and bowel pain; and, could create joint swelling or skin lesions. He said some symptoms could be quite debilitating for patients going about everyday life. Inflammation usually occurs in the last section of the small intestine or the large intestine but any part of the gut can be affected, sometimes in multiple patches. In a few people, the mouth, gullet or stomach may be involved. Crohn's disease is a rare condition. It can develop at any age, but usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30, and 60 to 80. This clinical trial, called MAP US, will randomise 270 participants and from 120 doctors’ offices across the United States, Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and Poland. Dr Al-Ansari’s patients will have the option to be involved but he wanted to make clear patients who did not wish to be involved, or who decided to pull out, would not be disadvantaged in their treatment. “Some patients think they will not be offered the best available treatment if they are not involved in the trial but that is not true,” Dr Al-Ansari said. “It's important to be part of research, to learn about more treatments, but the patient is always the priority." Participants will work closely with a research nurse at Ballarat Health Services’ Base Hospital who will monitor patient condition and can be easily accessed to address any patient concerns. For details on the study, visit mapmycrohns.com.

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