We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

Eosinophilic Biomarker Found for Aggressive IBD

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 14 Dec 2017
Image: Peripheral bloods smear showing five eosinophils, from a patient with eosinophilia (Photo courtesy of the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto).
Image: Peripheral bloods smear showing five eosinophils, from a patient with eosinophilia (Photo courtesy of the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto).
Peripheral blood eosinophilia (PBE) in inflammatory bowel disease is associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) and active disease. Little data exist on the long-term impact of PBE on disease course.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term mainly used to describe two conditions: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are long-term conditions that involve inflammation of the gut. Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon or large intestine.

A large group of medical scientists working with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Pittsburgh, PN, USA) performed a registry analysis of a consented, prospective, natural history IBD cohort at a tertiary center from 2009 to 2014. Demographics, comorbidities, disease activity, healthcare utilization, and time to hospitalization or surgical resection of patients who displayed PBE were compared to patients without PBE.

The team reported that of the 2,066 IBD patients, 19.2% developed PBE. PBE was significantly associated with UC, extensive colitis, and shorter disease duration. Over six years, PBE patients had more active disease, concurrent C-reactive protein elevation, healthcare utilization (hospitalization and IBD surgery), and more aggressive medical therapy (prednisone and anti- tumor necrosis factor). Patients with PBE had a significantly reduced time to hospitalization in both UC and Crohn’s disease (CD) and reduced time to colectomy in UC. PBE remained significantly associated with hospitalization and surgery in both CD and UC. New diagnosis of UC with PBE was associated with increased steroid and anti- tumor necrosis factor requirement.

The authors concluded that the multi-year study of a large IBD cohort suggests that peripheral blood eosinophilia represents a biomarker of a distinct IBD subgroup, with a unique inflammatory signature, and at risk for worse clinical outcomes. The study was published on November 7, 2017, in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Related Links:
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Platinum Member
Automated Coagulation Analyzer
Hemolumi H6
Gold Member
Automatic Hematology Analyzer
CF9600
Food Allergy Screening ELISA Kit
Allerquant 14G B ELISA
New
Microbiology Laboratory Automation Solution
BD Kiestra™ ReadA+BarcodA

Channels

Microbiology

view channel
Image: Graphical Abstract (Zeyang Shen et al., Shotgun Metagenomics Reveals Skin Microbiome Composition and Function in Infant Atopic Disease, Allergy, 2026. DOI: 10.1111/all.70449)

Infant Skin Microbiome Show Links to Later Eczema and Food Allergies

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, and food allergies often begin in infancy and are among the earliest stages of the atopic march. Atopic dermatitis alone can affect up to 20% of children, yet objective indicators... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Graphical Abstract (Wenjie Zhang, Zeyu Luo, Kaijie Liu, et al. Science Bulletin, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.scib.2026.09.016)

Multimodal AI Framework Aims to Guide Cancer Immunotherapy Decisions

Cancer immunotherapy has reshaped oncology, but heterogeneous responses and immune-related toxicities continue to complicate routine decision-making. Standard biomarkers, including programmed death-ligand... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: Under the theme “From Tissue to Answer”, the launch of VisiOmics anchors a comprehensive pathology portfolio spanning tissue and molecular pathology (Photo courtesy of MGI Tech Co., Ltd.)

MGI Launches Automated Multiplex Tissue Staining and Imaging System at ECP 2026

MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, China) introduced VisiOmics (PMIF-20RS), a fully automated multiplex immunofluorescence staining and imaging system, at the 38th European Congress of Pathology (ECP 2026)... Read more