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Evidence summaries

Probiotics as Add-on Treatments to Corticosteroids for Induction of Remission in Crohn's Disease

There is insufficient evidence about the efficacy of probiotics for induction of remission in Crohn's disease. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 1 study with 11 subjects. There were some methodological concerns with this study; corticosteroids were used concurrently in the two groups. Four of 5 patients in the probiotic group achieved remission compared to 5 of 6 in the placebo group (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.04 to 17.20).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment) and by imprecise results (few patients and wide confidence intervals).

    References

    • Butterworth AD, Thomas AG, Akobeng AK. Probiotics for induction of remission in Crohn's disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(3):CD006634.

Primary/Secondary Keywords