At IBDENC, we believe in engage, educate and empower. Our IBD Journal Scan is one way we deliver on that promise: by curating key articles from high-impact journals every month, we offer a clear, expert-driven snapshot of what’s new and noteworthy in IBD research. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or educator, this resource helps you stay on the frontline of cutting-edge science, with older scans archived so you can revisit past insights as well.
IBD Journal Scan
Key articles from high impact journals in last month
FEB-2026
The February 2026 journal selection highlights key advances in IBD management and diagnostics. Longer Steroid Tapering Improves Remission in Moderate–Severe Ulcerative Colitis supports extended tapering for improved steroid-free outcomes. Cyclic Exclusive Enteral Nutrition Sustains Drug-Free Remission in Paediatric Crohn’s Disease reinforces nutritional maintenance strategies. Appendicectomy Outperforms JAK Inhibitors for Remission After Biologic Failure in Ulcerative Colitis presents appendicectomy as a viable option in refractory disease. Extrachromosomal Circular DNA as a Novel Biomarker of IBD Activity and Type introduces a promising diagnostic marker, while Consensus Guidance for the Definition and Management of Upper Gastrointestinal Crohn’s Disease standardizes care for upper GI involvement.
Longer Steroid Tapering Improves Remission in Moderate-Severe Ulcerative Colitis
This randomized, double-blind controlled trial compared short (6-week) versus long (10-week) oral corticosteroid tapering in patients with steroid-responsive moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Ninety-four patients who responded to initial steroid therapy were randomized and followed for six months. Steroid-free clinical remission at six months was significantly higher with the long taper compared with the short taper (44% vs. 20%). Relapse rates, endoscopic healing, histologic improvement, and adverse events were comparable between groups. The short taper was inferior in sustaining remission, while safety profiles were similar. These findings suggest that a longer steroid taper may better maintain remission in ulcerative colitis, particularly in settings relying on conventional maintenance therapies.
Cyclic Exclusive Enteral Nutrition Sustains Drug-Free Remission in Paediatric Crohn’s Disease
The CD-HOPE trial was an open-label, endpoint-blinded randomized study evaluating nutritional maintenance therapy in paediatric Crohn’s disease. Children in clinical remission after 6–12 weeks of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) were randomized to cyclic EEN (2 weeks every 8 weeks) or daily partial enteral nutrition (PEN) for 12 months. Relapse occurred in 49% of patients receiving cyclic EEN compared with 76% receiving PEN, demonstrating superior maintenance of drug-free remission with cyclic EEN. Adverse events were infrequent and mainly related to disease relapse. Baseline wPCDAI of 0 and low CRP were associated with sustained remission. These findings support cyclic EEN as an effective, safe maintenance strategy in selected paediatric patients.
Appendicectomy Outperforms JAK Inhibitors for Remission After Biologic Failure in Ulcerative Colitis
The COSTA study was a multicentre, prospective, patient-preference cohort study comparing laparoscopic appendicectomy with switching to a JAK inhibitor in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis after biologic therapy failure. At 12 months, clinical remission without therapy failure was significantly higher after appendicectomy than after JAK inhibitor therapy (32.8% vs 12.2%). Corticosteroid-free remission, clinical response, and endoscopic improvement also favoured appendicectomy, while time to symptomatic remission, therapy failure, colectomy rates, and adverse events were similar between groups. Appendicectomy was safe, with few minor complications. These findings suggest appendicectomy may be an effective adjunctive treatment option in selected biologic-refractory ulcerative colitis patients.
Extrachromosomal Circular DNA as a Novel Biomarker of IBD Activity and Type
This prospective case–control study investigated extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) in intestinal biopsies from patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and healthy controls. IBD patients exhibited a significantly higher intestinal eccDNA burden than controls, with distinct, non-stochastic genomic and gene-specific patterns. eccDNA levels were higher in active ulcerative colitis compared with remission, while differences in Crohn’s disease were less pronounced. Specific gene-derived eccDNAs, including NRG1 and ZFPM2, were consistently enriched in IBD and demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability for disease presence and activity. These findings identify eccDNA signatures as promising tissue-based biomarkers for IBD diagnosis and disease activity assessment.
Consensus Guidance for the Definition and Management of Upper Gastrointestinal Crohn’s Disease
This international RAND/UCLA appropriateness study provides expert consensus on the definition, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of upper gastrointestinal Crohn’s disease (UGICD). UGICD is defined as Crohn’s involvement of the oesophagus, stomach, and/or duodenum and may occur at any stage of disease. Diagnosis should rely on a combination of clinical features, upper endoscopy with biopsies, and cross-sectional imaging, while symptoms alone are insufficient. Management should be individualised based on disease location and severity, incorporating proton-pump inhibitors, topical or systemic steroids, biologics, endoscopic dilation, or surgery when indicated. Clinical and endoscopic remission are appropriate treatment targets, whereas histological endpoints remain uncertain.