Journal article
Laboratory Tests in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Evidence-Based Approach to Daily Practice
Biomedicines, Vol.13(2), 491
02/17/2025
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13020491
PMCID: PMC11852734
PMID: 40002904
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) comprise a group of chronic gastrointestinal disorders characterized by periods of relapse and remission. The mainstay of treatment is medical, involving medications such as steroids, immune modulators, monoclonal antibodies (categorized as biologics), and small molecules. These medications can provide profound therapeutic benefits, but they can also cause severe and irreversible toxicities. Clinicians may utilize laboratory tests in the diagnosis and management of IBD including assessment of disease activity, monitoring medication response or toxicity, surveillance of infectious complications, and detection of nutritional deficiencies. Routine use of laboratory tests may help clinicians avoid reactivation of life-threatening infections such as tuberculosis or hepatitis B virus upon initiation of immune suppressive therapy. They can also be used to detect vitamin deficiencies such as B12 deficiency, which has the potential to cause irreversible neurologic damage. While some laboratory tests constitute established practices, the utility of newer tests such therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in the era of biologics is an evolving topic. Although clinical assessment with imaging, endoscopic, and histopathological examination is standard practice, laboratory tests serve as valuable adjuncts. We aim to explore the broad range of laboratory tests available to clinicians and to summarize their application in the current management of IBD in daily clinical practice, with special attention to updates in therapeutic drug monitoring.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Laboratory Tests in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Evidence-Based Approach to Daily Practice
- Creators
- Katelin Durham - University of IowaTyler Atagozli - University of IowaDavid E. Elliott - University of IowaM. Nedim Ince - University of Iowa, Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Biomedicines, Vol.13(2), 491
- DOI
- 10.3390/biomedicines13020491
- PMID
- 40002904
- PMCID
- PMC11852734
- NLM abbreviation
- Biomedicines
- ISSN
- 2227-9059
- eISSN
- 2227-9059
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Grant note
- Department of Veterans Affairs Merit Awards
Our work was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs Merit Awards 501 BX 002715 (D.E.E.) and 501 BX 002906 (M.N.I.).
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/17/2025
- Academic Unit
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Biology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984792363902771
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