Physicians sometimes misdiagnose IBD patients with IBS — 4 points

Researchers with United European Gastroenterology have discovered physicians sometimes misdiagnose inflammatory bowel disease patients with irritable bowel syndrome, according to Bel Marra Health.

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UEG spokesperson and researcher Michael Scharl, MD, and colleagues analyzed 1,012 patients from seven different studies to identify the presence of fecal lactoferrin, a biomarker that distinguishes between IBD and IBS.

Here are four points:

1. Researchers found patients who used fecal lactoferrin had a 0.78 sensitivity rate and a 0.94 specificity rate.

2. The positive likelihood ratio was 12.31 and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.23.

3. The diagnostic odds ratio was 52.65.

4. The researchers conclude fecal lactoferrin is an accurate method to differentiate between IBD and IBS.

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