| [ Summary ] |
Colonoscopy is the gold standard to diagnose or optimize the treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). However, it is necessary to develop a non-invasive, less expensive, and simple method to monitor disease activity of IBD. Fecal calprotectin is one of the most promising biomarkers for diagnosing IBD and can predict endoscopic activity and risk of relapse. Recently, fecal occult blood test, which is widely used for colon cancer screening, has been reported to reflect the endoscopic activity of ulcerative colitis and is easier to use in clinical practice. |