“Limitations in Using Faecal Calprotectin as an IBD Disease Biomarker during Pregnancy.”
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), mainly Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), may affect young female patients, including during their childbearing years. The study evaluated the use of faecal calprotectin levels as a biomarker for disease activity in pregnant IBD patients. 32 pregnant women with IBD were included in the study (20 patients with CD and 13 with UC). The initial findings are promising and Dr. Shitrit plans to include more patients in the study to be able to make treatment recommendations.
“Pregnancy onset IBD is not associated with adverse maternal or neonatal pregnancy outcomes”
Occasionally IBD is first diagnosed during pregnancy (pregnancy onset IBD [PO IBD]).The study evaluated the maternal and neonatal outcomes of PO IBD compared to patients with pre-existing IBD. 81 patients (70 known IBD, 11 PO IBD) were prospectively followed over a 3 year period. The conclusion of the study was that PO IBD is expected to run a similar course compared to patients with pre-existing IBD. The medical treatment, delivery mode and exacerbation rate should be treated just like any pregnant patient with existing IBD.
Dr. Ariella Shitrit, Digestive Diseases Institute, Shaare Zedek Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel