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).
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
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
Latest Pathology News
- Roche Launches Automated Test to Support Mesothelioma Differential Diagnosis
- AI Pathology Approach Closely Aligns With Breast Cancer Genomic Risk Classification
- Digital Pathology Test Stratifies Recurrence Risk in Early Breast Cancer
- AI Pathology Tool Predicts DNA Repair Deficiency in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
- AI Tissue Analysis May Help Identify Missed Precancerous Colon Polyps
- AI Pre-Screening Helps Identify Lung Cancer Cases for Additional Biomarker Testing
- AI Pathology Platform Targets Workflow Delays and Molecular Test Failures
- Updated Digital Pathology Platform Expands AI Integration for Cancer Diagnosis
- Molecular Testing Refines Barrett’s Esophagus Progression Risk Beyond Biopsy Findings
- AI Histopathology Tool Distinguishes Ewing Sarcoma for Diagnosis
- Rapid Mass Spectrometry Test May Aid Glioma Margin Decisions
- Genomic Classifier Predicts Benefit From Adding Hormone Therapy to Salvage Prostate Radiation
- Multimodal AI Supports Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment Across Diverse Cohorts
- New AI Model Maps Where Glioblastoma Could Return After Surgery
- Simple Test Could Reduce the Need for Invasive Uterine Cancer Checks
- Tumor Blood Vessel Features May Help Predict Colorectal Cancer Survival
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Blood Proteins Linked to Mortality Risk and Biological Aging Across Organ Systems
Older adults of the same chronological age can differ markedly in health, chronic disease burden, and resilience. Biological age aims to capture these differences by reflecting how rapidly the body and... Read more
Two-Step Blood Test Improves Specificity for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Early Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult to identify before more severe cognitive symptoms emerge. Blood tests measuring phosphorylated tau protein p-tau217 may help detect disease-related changes, but... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
Tumor and Immune Biomarkers Linked to Treatment Response in T-Cell Lymphoma
T-follicular helper cell lymphoma (TFHL) is a subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options after relapse. Its molecular abnormalities include frequent... Read more
Blood MRD Testing Aids Risk Analysis in Bladder and Other Cancers
Natera (Austin, TX, USA) presented findings from 25 abstracts, including nine oral presentations, at the ESMO Congress 2026 in Madrid. The research examined circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing for molecular... Read moreImmunology
view channel
Prototype Point-of-Care Lateral Flow Test Aims to Improve Neonatal Sepsis Triage
Sepsis in newborns and young infants remains a major clinical challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. An estimated 2.3 million newborns die each year, with sepsis contributing substantially... Read more
Immune and Inflammatory Markers May Help Assess CAR T-Cell Complication Risk
Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) can occur after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in patients with autoimmune disease. Identifying which patients are more likely to develop this complication... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Decentralized Laboratory Network Improves Detection of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in Guinea
Viral hemorrhagic fevers remain a major diagnostic challenge in West Africa because their early symptoms can resemble those of other febrile illnesses. The 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic underscored the need... Read more
Molecular Panel Gains WHO Emergency Use Listing to Support Ebola Outbreak Response
The ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries has become one of the largest outbreaks of this Ebola virus species recorded to date.... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Pathology Approach Closely Aligns With Breast Cancer Genomic Risk Classification
In early-stage breast cancer, precision oncology relies on biological information to guide personalized treatment decisions. Because access to tissue-based genomic testing may be limited, there is growing... Read more
Roche Launches Automated Test to Support Mesothelioma Differential Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare, deadly cancer that forms in the tissue lining many internal organs. Most patients are diagnosed late, with median overall survival reported at 12 to 18 months. Differential diagnosis... Read more
Digital Pathology Test Stratifies Recurrence Risk in Early Breast Cancer
In hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early breast cancer, accurate recurrence-risk assessment helps guide treatment decisions. However, individual risks... Read more
AI Pathology Tool Predicts DNA Repair Deficiency in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
High-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma is an aggressive cancer arising in the ovaries or fallopian tubes. Some tumors exhibit homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), a feature reflecting impaired DNA repair.... Read moreTechnology
view channel
Microfluidic Assay Predicts Treatment Response in Pediatric Leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rapidly developing blood cancer that can disrupt production of mature infection-fighting white blood cells within months. More than 120,000 people in the U.... Read more
AI Models Use Routine Blood Tests and Health Records to Predict Cancer Risk
Cancer screening programs cover only certain cancers and often rely on broad eligibility criteria, limiting individualized risk assessment across multiple cancer types. Routine health data, including blood... Read moreIndustry
view channel
CE-Marked IVD Sequencing Platform Launches Across Ten EU Countries
Clinical laboratories using sequencing in regulated diagnostic workflows need systems that support clearly defined processes and documentation. In Europe, meeting applicable EU IVDR requirements also means... Read more







.jpg)