Use of Biomarkers in the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic inflammatory disorders of the GI tract. The etiology is unclear, and most clinical symptoms are nonspecific, making the diagnosis and prognosis of IBD challenging as there is no gold-standard diagnostic test. Both endoscopy and imaging are essential diagnostic tools for determining disease state, location, and severity. However, the high cost and invasive nature of these tests make them unrealistic for frequent assessment. Given these limitations, laboratory testing of blood and feces has proven to be a viable alternative for routine disease monitoring. To integrate more efficient and personalized treatment strategies, new studies are consistently emerging to develop minimally invasive testing that can predict disease severity and response to available treatments. The goal is to develop better predictors of disease course, response to therapy, and therapy-related adverse events, thereby establishing a more efficient and personalized treatment strategy. This review aimed to delve into existing literature to assemble a collection of currently used biomarkers that aid in monitoring treatment response, as well as highlight select novel and combined biomarkers that hold promise for future management of IBD.