Inflammatory bowel disease: investigations used in its diagnosis and monitoring

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic health condition characterised by gastrointestinal tract inflammation. The two main types of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. More than half a million people in the UK have a diagnosis of IBD, therefore nurses working in a range of settings - including general practice, community care and acute care - may encounter patients with these conditions. A wide range of interventions are used to diagnose IBD and for ongoing monitoring post-diagnosis. This article details the main investigations patients with IBD are likely to undergo, including blood tests, stool tests, endoscopy and medical imaging. It is important that nurses have an understanding of these investigations to enable them to support patients throughout the diagnostic and monitoring processes.