Rapid diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are associated with heterogeneity of presentation, disease course, and outcomes between individuals. The frequency of flares and progression to complications can have a profound impact on quality of life for people living with IBD. Indeed, many patients report suboptimal disease control and major disruption to their lives from active, uncontrolled inflammation. Two major factors potentially contributing to adverse outcomes are delays to establish a diagnosis of IBD and delays in the introduction of effective treatment. Several recent studies have addressed the role of early diagnosis and early treatment, including differences to consider between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In this review we summarize the important insights obtained and highlight how outcomes for patients can be improved with a focus on timely diagnosis and timely, effective treatment interventions.