Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas, funded by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, have designed a wrist watch-like device that monitors two important biomarkers associated with IBD flare ups through sweat. Having these two biomarkers present doesn’t necessarily mean the patient will flare, but it can give the chance to intervene earlier making flares less intense or nonexistent. These two biomarkers are an early warning sign, and may be able to give IBD patients more control over their disease.Â
The wrist watch will monitor and quantify the biomarkers associated with IBD, interleukin-1β and C-reactive protein (CRP). These researchers were the first to establish proof that these biomarkers can in fact be detected and monitored through sweat. Not only could this empower IBD patients, it could also give doctors more insight as to whether a treatment is working quicker than without the device.
For this study, these researchers took twenty healthy volunteers to demonstrate that the biomarkers could in fact be measured, even in people without IBD. The device works by collecting ‘passive sweat’ which means you don’t have to be physically active for it to collect the sweat sample. The sweat is collected on a removable strip on the device that gets changed daily. The researchers realized it is essential that the sweat be collected passively, as people suffering with active IBD are probably not able to exercise.Â
With such positive outcomes on the first trial of this device, the researchers have been cleared and funded for a second round of testing which will start soon. This device also has the potential to track other biomarkers, and be helpful in tracking other diseases that are marked by the body’s inflammatory response. They hope to further develop the device so that it can identify cytokines, which are essentially the proteins that trigger the immune response.
This device could revolutionize the way we monitor IBD. Currently, doctors measure inflammation most commonly through endoscopy. But this procedure is costly, requires going under anesthesia, and can usually only be done once or twice a year, making consistent monitoring difficult. This could not only help patients and their doctors, but will certainly advance clinical research, and could be used in the near future to provide proactive monitoring to optimize patient care.Â
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