I was on doxycycline for years, then came the onset of crohns, im hoping to take legal action as more and more evidence piles up showing the association as irrefutable
i was thinking to myself how would we prove conclusively(with scientific observations) that doxycycline or any other antibiotic can cause IBD? when right now we have lots of evidence that suggests, that it cannot lead to crohns or IBD in every case, yet simultaneously we have statistics that show it is actually a risk factor.
The best evidence we have to date that i have found is the studies that demonstrate a characteristic lack of diversity in clostridia cluster of bacteria which are important for regulating inflammation, and a study done on antibiotic associated diarrhea the showed augmentin/ amoxiclillin-clavulanic acid can severely suppress the growth of these bacteria, making a strong argument that suggests, some antibiotics are strong enough to affect these important groups of good bacteria, and it is highly probable, they can cause IBD.
i have yet to speak to an attorney about all this, but i plan to show them all the latest scientific findings to see if they would be good enough to construct a legal case. we actually might have enough information here, and now with fecal transplant studys about to be completed, this would probably now be a smoking gun in the missing bacteria theory as the sole cause of IBD. after we have that evidence, it will be a very quick and successful court case i believe. that is all highly probable evidence though, not absolutely conclusive, but excellent.
absolutely conclusive evidence, i'm not sure we could ever demonstrate that, but how about, the most probable explanation beyond all reason. we have to actually try to give someone IBD with an antibiotic, a low fiber diet and a vitamin d deficit, then cure them with a fecal transplant to provide absolute conclusive evidence. im sure not many people will volunteer for that study, making absolute conclusive evidence, impossible.
more info on fecal transplants-
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=52400