Diagnostic Methods and Biomarkers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a chronic inflammatory condition involving the GI tract that includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). These conditions are believed to arise in genetically predisposed individuals who develop an exaggerated immune response to the intestinal microbiota. A timely and accurate diagnosis of IBD is essential because diagnostic delays can result in intestinal damage that is irreversible, leading in some cases to intestinal dysfunction and the need for surgery. Diagnostic delays are common in cases when GI symptoms are mild and nonspecific. When IBD is suspected, the common diagnostic algorithm includes laboratory analyses, cross-sectional radiologic imaging, and endoscopy with biopsy and histological analysis. Other diagnostic biomarkers, including those found in the serum, stool, and urine, have also been evaluated in IBD. Newer artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies are now being developed, and these will likely play an important future role in the diagnosis and management of IBD.