Zheng L, Wang HR, Jiao Y, Liu YH. Advances in non-invasive biomarkers for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(9): 116223 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i9.116223]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Ya-Hui Liu, MD, Doctor, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. yahui@jlu.edu.cn
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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Editorial
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Mar 7, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 2, 2026
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Publication Name
World Journal of Gastroenterology
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1007-9327
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Zheng L, Wang HR, Jiao Y, Liu YH. Advances in non-invasive biomarkers for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(9): 116223 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i9.116223]
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2026; 32(9): 116223 Published online Mar 7, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i9.116223
Advances in non-invasive biomarkers for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis
Ya-Hui Liu, Yan Jiao, Han-Run Wang, Li Zheng
Li Zheng, Department of Anesthesia Recovery Room, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Han-Run Wang, Department of Gastric and Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Yan Jiao, Ya-Hui Liu, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Yan Jiao and Ya-Hui Liu.
Author contributions: Zheng L and Wang HR contributed to the conception of the editorial and the acquisition and interpretation of relevant literature; Jiao Y and Liu YH contributed to the critical intellectual revision of the manuscript and provided overall academic supervision; Zheng L drafted the initial manuscript; all authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Corresponding author: Ya-Hui Liu, MD, Doctor, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. yahui@jlu.edu.cn
Received: November 6, 2025 Revised: December 14, 2025 Accepted: January 6, 2026 Published online: March 7, 2026 Processing time: 114 Days and 2.5 Hours
Abstract
Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), presents significant diagnostic challenges due to its heterogeneous clinical presentation and reliance on invasive procedures such as endoscopy. Recent studies highlight the potential of non-invasive biomarkers, particularly serum cytokines, for distinguishing pediatric IBD from non-IBD conditions. CXCL9, interleukin 8, and interleukin 22 have shown strong discriminatory ability, correlating with disease activity and aiding in the differentiation between CD and UC. These biomarkers may also inform disease progression and treatment needs, including the identification of patients likely to require biologic therapy. However, important gaps remain in translating biomarker findings into routine clinical practice, especially for predicting long-term treatment response. This editorial summarizes recent advances in non-invasive biomarkers for pediatric IBD, focusing on serum, fecal, and genetic markers, and discusses their integration with conventional diagnostic approaches. Ongoing validation in large pediatric cohorts is required to support clinical implementation and optimize biomarker-guided management strategies.
Core Tip: Biomarkers and genetic testing are transforming the diagnosis and management of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), offering non-invasive alternatives to traditional invasive diagnostic methods. Fecal calprotectin and genetic markers show promise in accurately distinguishing Crohn’s disease from ulcerative colitis, while multi-omic approaches and machine learning models enhance predictive capabilities for disease progression and therapy responses, supporting precision medicine in pediatric IBD.
