Biochip to Diagnose Bowel Disease

A new DNA chip has been developed that is designed to improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerous colitis, known collectively as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The biochip, called IBDChip, can analyze 46 mutations related to IBD and is scheduled to begin clinical trials soon. The IBDChip analyzes diverse polymorophisms that help to establish the risk of IBD, its prognosis, and the response of the patient to treatment. The chip not only helps doctors select the most suitable therapy but also helps determine in tested family members the degree of predisposition they have for developing the disease.

IBD, whose genetic origin has been proven, occurs in both children and adults. Between 10-20% of a patient's family members also have the disease. The IBDChip includes the polymorphisms associated in the literature with the disease. As new mutations are identified, these can be easily incorporated into the chip.

The IBDChip was developed by Progenika (Bilbao, Spain), a biotechnology company. The company has also developed the Lipochip, which diagnoses family hypercholesterolemia. The Lipochip was the first biochip to obtain the CE Mark for diagnostic use.




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