The global prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasing.. These conditions mainly impact older populations and show significant geographical variation, with more frequent occurrences in highly developed countries.
At present, ileo-colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for diagnosing and monitoring inflammatory bowel disease. However, this method is invasive and often has limited availability, resulting in extended waiting times for patients.
Recent studies have concentrated on creating biomarkers to evaluate disease activity, forecast disease progression, and track treatment response in IBD patients. Notable biomarkers under investigation include faecal calprotectin (FC) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Fecal Calprotectin (FC) is a stable protein that remains in faeces for up to a week, making it an excellent marker for non-invasive monitoring. Extensive research on faecal calprotectin in inflammatory bowel disease has demonstrated a strong correlation with endoscopic, histologic, and transmural disease activity.
Where as C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant produced by the liver in response to inflammation. Its levels frequently rise in inflammatory bowel disease patients, especially during the active phases of the disease. C-reactive protein is utilized as a biomarker to assess disease activity and anticipate treatment response.
Research has investigated the benefits of using multi-target tools that integrate serum and fecal biomarkers with clinical activity indexes. These tools are designed to improve diagnostic and monitoring accuracy by offering a more detailed view of disease status.
While markers such as faecal lactoferrin, autoantibodies, microRNAs, gene expression, and other serological and faecal indicators have shown promising potential, they need further validation before they can be widely used in clinical settings.
Reference: Bencardino, S., D’Amico, F., Zilli, A., Parigi, T. L., Allocca, M., Fiorino, G., Danese, S., & Furfaro, F. (2024). Fecal, blood, and urinary biomarkers in inflammatory bowel diseases. Journal of Translational Gastroenterology, 10.14218/JTG.2024.00001. https://doi.org/10.14218/JTG.2024.00001
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