The integrative evaluation of pathophysiological and clinical relevance of biomarkers in inflammatory bowel disease: a narrative review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which comprises ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder driven by genetic, immune, microbial, and environmental factors. Disease monitoring still relies on invasive endoscopy and non-specific systemic markers, including C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This review evaluates emerging non-invasive biomarkers for IBD and summarizes their pathophysiological relevance, analytical characteristics, and clinical utility for assessing intestinal inflammation.