Recent Trends in Non-Invasive Methods of Diagnosis and Evaluation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Short Review

Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Feb 8;25(4):2077. doi: 10.3390/ijms25042077.

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases are a conglomerate of disorders causing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which have gained a significant increase in prevalence in the 21st century. As they present a challenge in the terms of diagnosis as well as treatment, IBDs can present an overwhelming impact on the individual and can take a toll on healthcare costs. Thus, a quick and precise diagnosis is required in order to prevent the high number of complications that can arise from a late diagnosis as well as a misdiagnosis. Although endoscopy remains the primary method of evaluation for IBD, recent trends have highlighted various non-invasive methods of diagnosis as well as reevaluating previous ones. This review focused on the current non-invasive methods in the diagnosis of IBD, exploring their possible implementation in the near future, with the goal of achieving earlier, feasible, and cheap methods of diagnosis as well as prognosis in IBD.

Keywords: diagnosis; inflammatory bowel disease; non-invasive; prognosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / adverse effects
  • Health Care Costs
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / etiology

Grants and funding

This research was funded by “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Doctoral Research Program, through the project PCD 647/70/11.01.2024.