There is no cure for inflammatory bowel disease, but researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have identified two gene variants related to childhood onset of the disease.
Dr. Robert Baldassano said researchers have uncovered about 30 genes that may be related to IBD in adult patients. Heredity, he said, is an even stronger factor in kids with the disease. He said identifying the new gene variants will help researchers understand why people get the disease.
Doctors hope their studies will lead to better treatments or ways to prevent IBD.
Ryan's mother, Stacey, said this give them hope.
