The computer tool shows predicted disease course and how it might be influenced by different types of treatment. Researchers believe it may improve long term outcomes for patients.
Writing in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, researcher Corey Siegel and his team collated data from almost 800 paediatric CD patients.
They used this information to create a model of disease progression. This included inputs on disease characteristics, serologic immune responses and treatment effects.
The tool can identify which patients will need the most aggressive therapies and which can be managed with less intensive treatment.
It will also allow parents to decide whether they are willing to accept treatment risks compared to risks posed by the disease itself.
Mr Siegel concluded: ‘If we are able to choose the right patients to treat with the right medications, and successfully communicate this to patients, we believe that we can help improve long-term outcomes of Crohn’s disease.’
