The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released a new evidence-based guideline recommending the use of blood and stool-based biomarkers to help manage Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is estimated to affect 2.74 million people in the U.S.
The guideline was published today in Gastroenterology.
Biomarkers are blood or stool tests that can give more information on an underlying disease process. In the context of IBD, biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) in blood and fecal calprotectin (FCP) in stool, can measure levels of inflammation. These levels can help doctors assess whether a patient's Crohn's disease is active or in remission.
AGA recommends the use of biomarkers in addition to colonoscopy and imaging studies.
"Patients' symptoms do not always match endoscopic findings, so biomarkers are a useful tool to understand and monitor the status of inflammation and guide decision making in patients with Crohn's disease," says guideline author Siddarth Singh, MD, MS, University of California, San Diego.
For patients in remission:
For patients experiencing active symptoms:
For patients after surgery:
"Based on this guideline, biomarkers are no longer considered experimental and should be an integral part of IBD care," says guideline author Ashwin Ananthakrishnan, MBBS, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital. "This is a win for Crohn's disease patients. Biomarkers are usually easier to obtain, less invasive, more cost-effective than frequent colonoscopies and can be assessed more frequently for tighter disease control and better long-term outcomes in Crohn's disease."
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. It causes inflammation and damage to the digestive system, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue and complications such as strictures and fistulas.
Crohn's disease is a lifelong condition with periods of active symptoms (flare-ups) and periods of remission when symptoms are less severe or absent. It can be diagnosed at any age but is most often diagnosed between ages 13 and 30. It can vary in severity and usually requires ongoing medical management to control symptoms and improve quality of life. Learn more in the AGA GI Patient Center.
Citation: First comprehensive guideline on using biomarkers for monitoring Crohn's disease (2023, November 17) retrieved 17 November 2023 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-comprehensive-guideline-biomarkers-crohn-disease.html
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