A team of UK-based researchers and clinicians has developed comprehensive new guidelines to improve the monitoring of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the goal of preventing progression to bowel (colorectal) cancer.
Developed for the British Society of Gastroenterology, the guidelines were created by experts from Newcastle University, Oxford University, the University of Central Lancashire, and others. Published in the journal Gut, the initiative was supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres in Newcastle and Oxford.
Despite advances in treatment and regular monitoring, IBD patients—those with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis—still face a higher risk of developing bowel cancer compared to the general population. The new guidelines recommend colonoscopy for all IBD patients eight years after symptom onset and at diagnosis for those with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a liver-related complication.
The guidance is based on a thorough review of over 7,500 publications and includes 73 evidence-based recommendations. It covers surveillance strategies, personalised risk assessment, service organisation, and patient communication.
Experts say this framework is vital for enhancing early cancer detection and improving patient outcomes. “These guidelines provide accurate, up-to-date advice for clinicians to deliver the best care,” said Prof. James East of Oxford University Hospitals.
With IBD cases rising in India, particularly in urban areas, the guidelines offer a valuable reference for Indian healthcare providers, who currently rely on international protocols. Experts believe India could benefit by adapting these recommendations to suit local healthcare needs and systems.