A recent study discovered that patients suspected of having inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be able to avoid unnecessary colonoscopies and long wait times through improved testing protocols. Researchers from the Birmingham NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at the University of Birmingham published the findings in Frontline Gastroenterology.The team conducted a two-year study with 767 participants to test a new method for diagnosing IBD. By combining clinical history with multiple home stool tests, they found that repeated faecal calprotectin (FCP) tests were able to accurately predict the possibility of IBD, Crohn’s Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis. The researchers observed that a second FCP test was a strong indicator for further investigation, such as a colonoscopy, and recommended that 20% of patients have two samples submitted before referral to secondary care.
Dr Peter Rimmer, from the University of Birmingham’s NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and the lead author of the study, explained:
“Patients with symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease often face long wait times for a diagnosis, and current testing methods are struggling to keep up with demand.
“By using a detailed 13-point symptom checker and multiple FCP tests, we have been able to more accurately identify patients with IBD and other conditions. Implementing this protocol could potentially shorten the time to diagnosis and treatment for IBDs, as it will improve the efficiency of screening and testing processes.Paraphrased:
g can be done through primary care. Multiple FCP tests’ sensitivity can be utilized to identify patients who require urgent referral to secondary care.”
Dr Rachel Cooney, Consultant Gastroenterologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, researcher at the NIHR Birmingham BRC and co-author of the study, stated:
“In its simplest form, this study might help enhance referral triage for IBD patients. However, as we design new care paths, it could introduce new exciting opportunities: with the increasing availability of home FCP testing, the test results along with simple symptom questionnaires could contribute to the algo feeding.Algorithms have been developed to enable patients to refer themselves to specialized healthcare services, which helps to alleviate pressure on primary care. This will be the focus of a comprehensive follow-up study that is currently being launched.
