Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

The diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and adolescents is a challenge to patients, their families, and to the healthcare team. This review highlights recent advances in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of pediatric IBD. Among the most prominent advances are the new diagnostic serologic assays that can help screen for IBD in the absence of physical signs of disease and help discriminate between ulcerative and Crohn's colitis. Other tests have been identified as potential noninvasive markers of disease activity, including color Doppler abdominal ultrasound and sugar permeability tests. Recent advances in pharmacogenetics afford clinicians the ability to optimize and individualize therapy using azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine. Finally, bone health has come forth as a major issue in the complete management of pediatric IBD.