Blood test detects risk of digestive diseases years before symptoms appear
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A simple blood test can detect Crohn’s disease years before symptoms appear, according to a new study published by SWNS.
Canadian researchers say the discovery could allow for earlier diagnosis and possible prevention of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The test measures the immune system’s response to flagellin, a protein found in intestinal bacteria. Researchers found that this response is elevated in some people years before Crohn’s disease develops.
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The findings, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, highlight the “interplay” between gut bacteria and immune system responses as a key step in the development of the disease, according to the SWNS report.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that causes persistent digestive symptoms, pain and fatigue, significantly affecting quality of life. Its incidence among children has doubled since 1995, according to official figures.
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes swelling and tissue irritation, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. (iStock)
The presence of flagellin antibodies long before symptoms appear suggests that the immune reaction may help trigger the disease, according to research leader Dr. Ken Croitoru, a clinical scientist and professor of medicine and immunology at the University of Toronto.
A better understanding of this early process could lead to better prediction, prevention and treatment, the expert said.
“We haven’t cured anyone yet and we have to do better.”
“With all the advanced biologic therapy we have today, patient responses are partial at best,” Croitoru told SWNS. “We haven’t cured anyone yet and we have to do better.”
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“We wanted to know: Do people who are at risk and who are now healthy have these antibodies against flagellin?” said. “We looked, we measured and yes, at least some of them did.”
This new research is part of the Genetic, Environmental and Microbial (GEM) Project, which has followed more than 5,000 healthy first-degree relatives of people with Crohn’s disease around the world since 2008. The project collects genetic, biological and environmental data to better understand how the disease develops.
According to the lead researcher, the presence of flagellin antibodies long before symptoms appear suggests that the immune reaction may help trigger the disease. (iStock)
The study followed 381 first-degree relatives of Crohn’s patients, 77 of whom later developed the disease. Of them, more than 30% had elevated antibody responses.
The responses were stronger among siblings, underscoring the role of shared environmental exposure, the researchers said.
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So far, 130 of the study participants have developed Crohn’s disease, giving researchers a unique opportunity to study its early stages. The average time from blood sample collection to diagnosis was almost two and a half years.
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Previous GEM research has shown that an inflammatory immune response targeting gut bacteria can appear long before the disease develops.
The study followed 381 first-degree relatives of Crohn’s patients, 77 of whom later developed the disease. (iStock)
In healthy people, gut bacteria coexist peacefully and play an essential role in digestive health, but in Crohn’s patients, the immune system appears to mount an abnormal response against the microbes, experts say.
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The Canadian team also confirmed that this pre-disease immune response was associated with intestinal inflammation and intestinal barrier dysfunction, both hallmarks of Crohn’s disease.
The study had some limitations, including the fact that it did not include experiments to show exactly how the immune response could lead to Crohn’s disease. (iStock)
Research team member Dr. Sun-Ho Lee, a gastroenterologist, said this new study supports the idea of designing a flagellin-directed vaccine for certain high-risk individuals to prevent the disease, according to SWNS.
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The study had some limitations, including the fact that it did not include experiments to show exactly how the immune response could lead to Crohn’s disease.
As a result, the researchers were unable to determine the biological steps that link the immune reaction to the onset of the disease. “Further mechanistic and validation studies are underway,” they noted.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant at News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of topics including food and drink, travel and health.