Blood warning signs could predict inflammatory bowel disease a decade before diagnosis

A possible early signal

Researchers examined 2,000 blood samples from 500 US military personnel. Of those people, 200 later developed Crohn’s disease, 200 developed ulcerative colitis, and 100 developed neither condition.

What IBD involves

At least 3.8 million people worldwide live with IBD, an immune condition that causes chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. It can lead to pain, diarrhoea and fatigue.

Limits and future hopes

The findings appeared in Gut and were presented at the United European Gastroenterology meeting in Barcelona. Researchers say the results need confirmation in other groups, and show an association rather than proving infections cause IBD.

The researchers hope early identification could eventually support treatment before symptoms begin. They point to type 1 diabetes, where a blood test can detect immune activity against the pancreas and help delay disease onset.

Patient group welcomes research

Marianne Radcliffe, chief executive of Crohn’s & Colitis UK, said the work was an important step for people affected by Crohn’s and colitis. She said each new insight helps clarify how the conditions develop, including changes that may happen years before symptoms appear. Dr Arno Bourgonje, of the University Medical Centre Groningen and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said people with IBD have long been treated only after damage occurs, which can be too late for some.