http://cbsnewyork.com/investigates/local_story_021161232.html Jan 21, 2004
Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel ailment, is debilitating. Symptoms include recurrent abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue. CBS 2's Michael Pomeranz reports on a novel approach to treating the disease that often strikes in the prime of life.
Emily Bishko was in her junior year of college when she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. "I was concerned I wasn't gonna finish school. I was concerned about all of these issues."
Then she entered a Crohn's Phase 2 clinical trial to test Leukine, a drug normally used to build up the immune systems of cancer patients going through chemotherapy. "After taking the medicine I felt like there was no problem anymore," she recalls.
"Leukine has the unique ability, it's the only drug of its class that I know of, that does actually affect white blood cells by improving their activity and enhancing the number of white cells in the system," explains Dr. Michael Epstein.
Until now doctors have used drugs to suppress an overactive immune system thought to be involved in Crohn's disease. It's not clear why doing the reverse and stimulating the immune system with daily Leukine injections keeps Crohn's symptoms at bay.
"Some of the theories evolved around it being the ability of those white blood cells to recognize bacteria and clear these bacteria and not to be overactive in that sense," Dr. Epstein says.
About 80 percent of patients in the Leukine study showed improvement. Over half, including Emily, went into full remission. "It had long-term benefits. I believe after the twelve weeks I remained healthy, symptom free for about say like two to three years."
A larger clinical study is underway at sites around the country.