Treating kids suffering from Crohn’s disease (CD) may have been simplified, or at least the following article suggests so. Scientists have now developed a computer based visual tool for showing pediatric CD patients’ predicted disease course and how this might be influenced by different treatment options. The graphical displays produced by computer models are apparently easy to understand for patients as well as their family members.
Data from 796 pediatric CD patients was accumulated for designing a model with the help of system dynamics analysis. Input variables possibly encompassed patient and disease characteristics, magnitude of serologic immune responses, along with exposure to medical treatments. These predictive computer models supposedly aid distinguish patients in need of aggressive therapies and those who can do without them. Simplified graphical displays are seemingly generated by the models.
While conducting the study, it appeared that CD patients have a predictable disease course when a combination of clinical characteristics and blood tests is put to use. The newly introduced tool allegedly empowers parents of children suffering from CD with a simple graph pointing out the anticipated disease course for their kid with and without treatment. Hence, parents can decide whether they are willing to accept the risks linked with therapy as compared to the threat of the disease itself. Corey Siegel, MD, MS, of Dartmouth Medical School and colleagues believe that employing the precise medications and successfully communicating the course of treatment with patients can help enhance long-term outcomes of Crohn’s disease.
The study was published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
