Article Type
Changed
Mon, 03/13/2023 - 15:29

In new evidence-based guidelines, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends noninvasive biomarkers as a first-line strategy for monitoring many patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). These guidelines were published in Gastroenterology.

The AGA guidelines outline use cases for three biomarkers that provide accurate insights into UC disease activity: serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (blood), fecal calprotectin (stool), and fecal lactoferrin (stool). AGA recommends a monitoring strategy that integrates noninvasive biomarkers for patients with UC in remission (no current symptoms) as well as those with current symptoms.
 

Patients with UC in symptomatic remission

  • Perform interval biomarker monitoring every 6-12 months.
  • AGA recommends stool-based biomarkers over blood testing.
  • If biomarkers are normal, AGA suggests continuing biomarker monitoring and avoiding routine endoscopic assessment.
  • If biomarkers are elevated, AGA suggests endoscopic assessment by a gastroenterologist.
  • Listen to your body! Talk to your doctor about any new symptoms.

 

Patients with symptomatically active UC

  • Biomarker testing should be the first step to determine the need for endoscopic assessment.
  • For patients with mild symptoms who have normal or elevated biomarkers, AGA suggests endoscopic assessment by a gastroenterologist.
  • For patients with moderate to severe symptoms who have normal biomarkers, AGA suggests endoscopic assessment by a gastroenterologist.
  • For patients with moderate to severe symptoms and elevated biomarkers, AGA suggests treatment adjustment and avoiding endoscopic assessment.

With AGA guidelines guiding the use of noninvasive biomarkers, physicians can confidently offer a more convenient and closer monitoring option for their patients.

AGA will advocate for all insurers to cover the cost of biomarker testing in UC.

Publications
Topics
Sections

In new evidence-based guidelines, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends noninvasive biomarkers as a first-line strategy for monitoring many patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). These guidelines were published in Gastroenterology.

The AGA guidelines outline use cases for three biomarkers that provide accurate insights into UC disease activity: serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (blood), fecal calprotectin (stool), and fecal lactoferrin (stool). AGA recommends a monitoring strategy that integrates noninvasive biomarkers for patients with UC in remission (no current symptoms) as well as those with current symptoms.
 

Patients with UC in symptomatic remission

  • Perform interval biomarker monitoring every 6-12 months.
  • AGA recommends stool-based biomarkers over blood testing.
  • If biomarkers are normal, AGA suggests continuing biomarker monitoring and avoiding routine endoscopic assessment.
  • If biomarkers are elevated, AGA suggests endoscopic assessment by a gastroenterologist.
  • Listen to your body! Talk to your doctor about any new symptoms.

 

Patients with symptomatically active UC

  • Biomarker testing should be the first step to determine the need for endoscopic assessment.
  • For patients with mild symptoms who have normal or elevated biomarkers, AGA suggests endoscopic assessment by a gastroenterologist.
  • For patients with moderate to severe symptoms who have normal biomarkers, AGA suggests endoscopic assessment by a gastroenterologist.
  • For patients with moderate to severe symptoms and elevated biomarkers, AGA suggests treatment adjustment and avoiding endoscopic assessment.

With AGA guidelines guiding the use of noninvasive biomarkers, physicians can confidently offer a more convenient and closer monitoring option for their patients.

AGA will advocate for all insurers to cover the cost of biomarker testing in UC.

In new evidence-based guidelines, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends noninvasive biomarkers as a first-line strategy for monitoring many patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). These guidelines were published in Gastroenterology.

The AGA guidelines outline use cases for three biomarkers that provide accurate insights into UC disease activity: serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (blood), fecal calprotectin (stool), and fecal lactoferrin (stool). AGA recommends a monitoring strategy that integrates noninvasive biomarkers for patients with UC in remission (no current symptoms) as well as those with current symptoms.
 

Patients with UC in symptomatic remission

  • Perform interval biomarker monitoring every 6-12 months.
  • AGA recommends stool-based biomarkers over blood testing.
  • If biomarkers are normal, AGA suggests continuing biomarker monitoring and avoiding routine endoscopic assessment.
  • If biomarkers are elevated, AGA suggests endoscopic assessment by a gastroenterologist.
  • Listen to your body! Talk to your doctor about any new symptoms.

 

Patients with symptomatically active UC

  • Biomarker testing should be the first step to determine the need for endoscopic assessment.
  • For patients with mild symptoms who have normal or elevated biomarkers, AGA suggests endoscopic assessment by a gastroenterologist.
  • For patients with moderate to severe symptoms who have normal biomarkers, AGA suggests endoscopic assessment by a gastroenterologist.
  • For patients with moderate to severe symptoms and elevated biomarkers, AGA suggests treatment adjustment and avoiding endoscopic assessment.

With AGA guidelines guiding the use of noninvasive biomarkers, physicians can confidently offer a more convenient and closer monitoring option for their patients.

AGA will advocate for all insurers to cover the cost of biomarker testing in UC.

Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Sections
Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Disqus Comments
Default
Use ProPublica
Hide sidebar & use full width
render the right sidebar.
Conference Recap Checkbox
Not Conference Recap
Clinical Edge
Display the Slideshow in this Article
Medscape Article
Display survey writer
Reuters content
Disable Inline Native ads
WebMD Article