title: Disease monitoring in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: The optimal method for monitoring quiescent disease in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis is yet to be determined. Endoscopic evaluation with ileocolonoscopy is the gold standard but is invasive, costly, and time-consuming. There are many commercially available biomarkers that may be used in clinical practice to evaluate disease status in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the most widely adopted biomarkers are C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FC). This review summarizes the evidence for utilizing CRP and FC for monitoring IBD during clinical remission and after surgical resection. Endoscopic correlation with CRP and FC is evaluated in each disease state. Advantages and drawbacks of each biomarker are discussed with special consideration of isolated ileal CD. Fecal immunochemical testing, traditionally used for colorectal cancer screening, is mentioned as a potential new alternative assay in the evaluation of IBD. Based on a mixture of information gleaned from biomarkers, clinical status, and endoscopic evaluation, the best treatment decisions can be made for the patient with IBD.
authors.affiliation: Shannon Chang, Lisa Malter, David Hudesman, Division of Gastroenterology, New York University, New York City, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Shannon Chang, Lisa Malter, David Hudesman, Division of Gastroenterology, New York University, New York City, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malter
authors.affiliation: Shannon Chang, Lisa Malter, David Hudesman, Division of Gastroenterology, New York University, New York City, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hudesman
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Biomarkers; C-reactive protein; Crohn’s disease; Fecal calprotectin; Fecal immunochemical test; Inflammatory bowel disease; Postoperative recurrence; Remission; Ulcerative colitis