Predictors of fibrostenotic Crohn's disease

Abstract

Intestinal fibrosis is a common and serious complication of Crohn's disease (CD) and as it can occur at any time during the disease course, it is crucial to identify patients at risk. The aim is not only to understand the pathophysiology of fibrogenesis but to be able to accurately inform subjects about their disease course, design future trials of potentially useful antifibrotic therapies, and, most important, identify those CD patients at risk, with the view to early, more aggressive medical therapy. This review summarizes the current status of our understanding and ability to predict fibrostenosing CD. The review encompasses three distinct areas: genetic variants, clinical phenotypes, and serologic markers in order to develop a conceptual framework for an understanding of fibrostenotic CD. It also aims to highlight where our knowledge is insufficient in order to identify areas that require future research.