Ulcerative colitis is a long-term disease that causes inflammation in the large intestine.
It can lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding, fatigue, and weight loss.
For many people, the disease begins suddenly and can greatly affect daily life, work, and emotional well-being.
Doctors do not fully understand why some people develop ulcerative colitis while others do not, and there is currently no cure.
Treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and preventing flare-ups. Because the disease is usually diagnosed only after symptoms appear, researchers have been searching for ways to detect it earlier.
A new study from Örebro University in Sweden suggests that warning signs may be present in the blood many years before the disease begins. The research team discovered that certain immune markers, called antibodies, can appear long before the first symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to fight harmful substances, but sometimes they mistakenly target the body’s own tissues. In this study, scientists focused on a specific antibody known as anti-integrin αvβ6.
To explore this idea, the researchers analyzed blood samples collected from large population studies. These samples had been stored for many years, which allowed scientists to look back in time and see whether people who later developed ulcerative colitis already had the antibody in their blood.
They found that individuals who were eventually diagnosed with the disease were much more likely to have anti-integrin αvβ6 antibodies years before their diagnosis. In some cases, the marker appeared more than a decade before symptoms began.
This discovery helps scientists understand how ulcerative colitis may develop slowly over time instead of starting suddenly. It suggests that changes in the immune system may begin long before a person feels sick. If doctors can identify people at risk early, they may be able to monitor them more closely or even take steps to prevent the disease from becoming severe.
Researchers believe that early detection could open the door to new treatment strategies. If high-risk individuals are identified before symptoms appear, doctors might be able to start treatment sooner, reduce inflammation, and possibly delay the onset of the disease.
Early care could also lower the risk of serious complications such as severe intestinal damage or the need for surgery later in life. However, scientists stress that more studies are needed before this approach can be used in routine medical practice.
The study was carried out in collaboration with several Swedish universities and is being presented at a major international meeting focused on inflammatory bowel disease. Experts say the findings are promising because they show that ulcerative colitis may have a detectable early phase that was previously unknown.
When reviewing the results, it is important to note that the presence of the antibody does not guarantee that a person will develop the disease. It only shows an increased risk. Screening programs would need to balance the benefits of early detection with the risk of causing unnecessary worry.
Still, the research provides an important step toward understanding the hidden early stages of ulcerative colitis.
Overall, this study highlights the growing importance of blood tests in predicting disease risk before symptoms appear. It also shows how long-term health studies can provide valuable insights into chronic conditions.
If future research confirms these findings, doctors may one day be able to identify people at risk and offer preventive care years in advance. This could transform how ulcerative colitis is diagnosed and treated, giving patients a better chance at maintaining long-term health and quality of life.
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