{"id":5378,"date":"2023-05-30T06:02:50","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T06:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/?p=5378"},"modified":"2023-05-30T06:02:50","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T06:02:50","slug":"ulcerative-colitis-new-guidelines-for-testing-stool-and-blood-tests-required","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/ulcerative-colitis-new-guidelines-for-testing-stool-and-blood-tests-required\/","title":{"rendered":"Ulcerative Colitis New Guidelines For Testing: Stool And Blood Tests Required"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Healthline<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The American Gastroenterological Association has looked into ulcerative colitis and they are now recommending biomarker tests to see if endoscopy is really required for those who have it. Many believe that inflammation levels can now be monitored through certain biomarkers that are present in both the blood and stool.<\/p>\n

There are ulcerative colitis patients who no longer need regular monitoring with the use of invasive endoscopies. This was mentioned in the new guidelines released by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).<\/p>\n

The guidelines were published recently in the journal\u00a0called Gastroenterology<\/em><\/a>. In it are the highlights that show how biomarker monitoring through noninvasive blood and stool tests are already ample enough for monitoring patients whose ulcerative colitis (UC) is in remission. This can also be true to some with ongoing UC symptoms.<\/p>\n

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Endoscopies Were Considered to be the Gold Standard for Examining the Body\u2019s GI Tract<\/h2>\n

Ulcerative colitis is oftentimes the culprit behind the inflammation and sores, or\u00a0ulcers, in the large intestine. This is why doctors resort to using an endoscope. This is a lighted, flexible tube with a built-in camera on one end. The camera goes into the body to allow the specialist to look into the affected part of the\u00a0gastrointestinal\u00a0(GI) tract.<\/p>\n

There are two types of endoscopies for testing ulcerative colitis. This was per the\u00a0Crohn\u2019s & Colitis Foundation. A sigmoidoscopy allows the doctor to examine the inflammation in the lower colon and rectum. A total\u00a0colonoscopy, on the other hand,\u00a0 examines the whole colon.<\/p>\n

The endoscopy is a procedure that\u2019s considered to be the gold standard for examining and monitoring ulcerative colitis and seeing if there\u2019s bowel inflammation. However, the authors behind the new guidelines set that this is also invasive, expensive, and more importantly, often requires weeks of waiting just to schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cFecal and blood testing, however, can [provide] objective evidence about inflammation, worsening inflammation, and improved inflammation without having to necessarily subject the patient to invasive procedures, such as colonoscopy or similar insertion of a scope into an orifice of the body,\u201d<\/strong> <\/em>explained gastroenterologist<\/a>\u00a0Russell Cohen, MD<\/a>. He is the director of the UChicago Medicine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. He also was not part of the group of authors who wrote the new guidelines. These tests can already see if the medicines are effective and if the disease is under proper management.<\/p>\n

Biomarkers Used for Monitoring Ulcerative Colitis<\/h2>\n

The AGA recommendations set hone in on three specific biomarkers that can provide doctors with a precise look into the ulcerative colitis disease activity: fecal calprotectin and fecal lactoferrin, which can be detected in stool, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP), which can be seen in blood.<\/p>\n

The new guidelines suggest that biomarker testing need to actually be the primary step when it comes to determining if there\u2019s a need for endoscopic testing for those who suffer from symptomatic UC. They also advise patients to get biomarker monitoring every 6 to 12 months in UC patients who are considered to be in symptomatic remission.<\/p>\n

As for the new tests, stool tests are said to be better than its blood counterpart, according to the authors. They say that this is favored because stools are more sensitive. The doctors will be able to detect even mild inflammations. More importantly, these are said to also be more specific because the measurements would be elevated only from intestinal inflammation instead of any incidental ongoing medical issues like respiratory infections.<\/p>\n

When Endoscopy is Not Needed<\/h2>\n

For those who are in symptomatic remission and who have normal biomarkers, the AGA said that they also need to continue their biomarker monitoring activities but also need to stay away from routine endoscopic assessments.<\/p>\n

The guidelines say that endoscopic assessments should be avoided for those diagnosed with moderate to severe symptoms and elevated biomarkers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there are severe symptoms and elevated biomarkers, this confirms the symptoms are from active ulcerative colitis,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> said Ashwin N. Ananthakrishnan, MBBS, MPH<\/a>. He is the guideline author as well as a gastroenterologist with Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. \u201cOne does not need to wait for an endoscopy in this setting and should initiate treatment early without delay.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Endoscopy is Still Required for Some Cases<\/h2>\n

The AGA said that endoscopic assessments are still required in the following cases:<\/p>\n