Blood test could identify Crohn’s disease risk years before symptoms

Credit: Getty Images/Pornpak Khunatorn

By Olivia Bowthorpe

A simple blood test of antibodies to gut bacteria may predict Crohn’s disease long before symptoms appear, research suggests.

This could allow earlier monitoring and potentially preventive strategies, say Dr Ken Croitoru, clinician scientist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues.