Crohn’s and colitis: Antibody patterns appear in blood years before diagnosis
A study presented at UEG Week found lower antibody diversity in future patients up to 10 years beforehand. The authors say it is too early for screening tests.
Symbolic image · Photo: Frankincense Diala / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (cropped and resized)
Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis may show up in the blood long before the first symptoms. That is suggested by a study presented on Oct. 19, 2026, at the UEG Week gastroenterology congress in Barcelona. Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is still pending, ScienceDaily reported on Oct. 24, 2026.
A team led by first author Arno Bourgonje examined 2,000 blood samples from 500 people: 200 later developed Crohn’s disease, 200 ulcerative colitis, and 100 remained healthy. The samples were taken at the time of diagnosis and about two, four and 10 years earlier. Antibody responses to some 357,000 antigens, for example from bacteria, viruses and foods, were tested. Those who later fell ill had markedly lower antibody diversity as early as 10 years before diagnosis. A computer model distinguished future Crohn’s patients from healthy people with an accuracy score (AUC) of 0.90, and colitis patients with 0.84; a value of 1 would be perfect.
The researchers explicitly describe the work as a proof of concept. A blood test for early detection is not yet ready: the patterns must first be confirmed in independent, more diverse groups followed over longer periods, Bourgonje said. This report is general information and does not replace medical advice.
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