Blog post by Michael Dolinger, MD MBA
Living with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis can feel overwhelming, especially when tracking your health feels like a guessing game. But there’s good news! Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is a simple, non-invasive tool that allows doctors to see what’s happening inside your body in real time—without the need for uncomfortable prep like fasting or bowel cleansing. Unlike blood tests that might miss ongoing inflammation, IUS gives a clearer picture, helping doctors adjust your treatment right when you need it.
Recent studies highlight how effective IUS is in detecting inflammation that patients might not even feel. This means your care team can make more informed decisions, like adjusting your medication sooner, preventing long-term damage. In fact, IUS has been shown to lead to treatment changes in over 40% of patients when inflammation is spotted. For those in remission, it can even help reduce therapy safely while closely monitoring any potential flare-ups. It’s quick, easy, and could make all the difference in managing your IBD.
**Our open access series blog posts highlight intestinal ultrasound research that is freely available for public consumption. These blog posts summarize the key points from the latest intestinal ultrasound open access original research, editorials, guides, and consensus statements. The original link to download the article for free in full can be found by clicking here. Otherwise, the summary above should provide some of the valuable information you may be looking for.
