Rationale for Correct Answer
The correct answer is: Ultrasound measurement of bowel wall thickness correlates with treatment-related endoscopic remission in patients with UC
A recent study found that ultrasound measurements of bowel wall thickness correlated with treatment-related endoscopic remission in patients with UC.1 The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for assessing localization, enhancement, ulcer activity, and complications in patients with CD is comparable to that of colonoscopy and magnetic resonance enterograpy.2 Although fecal calprotectin is a commonly used biomarker for monitoring IBD, intermediate concentrations are not predictive of disease state.3 There is currently research underway to explore the use of lipids, such as arachidonic acid, as IBD biomarkers, but this has not been studied in clinical trials.4
References:
1. de Voogd F et al. Gastroenterology. 2022;163(6):1569-81;
2. Allocca M et al. J Crohns Colitis. 2018;12(11):1280-7;
3. Turner D et al. Gastroenterology. 2021;160(5):1570-83;
4. Cecerska-Heryć E et al. Proteomics Clin Appl. 2023;17(1):e2200003