Serum markers of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A literature review

Background: The diagnosis, prognosis, assessment of disease activity and severity, as well as the outcome of therapy of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC), remain a challenge for physicians treating this disorder. For each of these aspects, there is no single gold standard test or examination. Endoscopy accompanied by histology examination can confirm the diagnosis of IBD. Laboratory markers have been investigated in IBD for diagnostic and differential diagnostic purposes, assessment of disease activity and risk of complications, prediction of relapse, and for monitoring the effect of therapy. Objective: This article provides a review of the literature regarding IBD with the recommendation of prominent markers that can be used for diagnosing and monitoring the disease. Conclusion: C-reactive protein is an acute phase reactant which is best used to assess inflammation in IBD. Fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin are reliable fecal markers to monitor disease activity. The combination of serological marker P-ANCA and ASCA can be used to diagnose CD. In clinical practice, Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) is used as the primary tool for evaluating IBD.