Cohort Study | Endoscopic biopsy with normal mucosa associated with elevated risk of inflammatory bowel disease for at least 30 years

Summary:

This study explored the long-term risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) after an endoscopic biopsy with normal mucosa. The researchers identified individuals in Sweden with a lower or upper gastrointestinal (GI) biopsy of normal mucosa, their matched population references, and unexposed full siblings.

They found that individuals with a previous lower or upper GI biopsy showing normal mucosa were at persistently higher risk of overall IBD, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease compared to their matched population references and unexposed full siblings, and the increased risk persisted at least 30 years after the biopsy with normal findings.

The findings suggest a substantial symptomatic period before IBD diagnosis, and clinicians should be aware of the long-term increased risk of IBD in those with symptoms requiring GI investigation but with a finding of histologically normal mucosa.

Article: Long-term risk of inflammatory bowel disease after endoscopic biopsy with normal mucosa: A population-based, sibling-controlled cohort study in Sweden – PLOS Medicine

Commentary: Risk for IBD Remains High After Endoscopic Biopsy With Normal Mucosa – HealthDay