The genetics of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: Towards precision medicine

Abstract

Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and heterogeneous disease. IBD is commonly classified into Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is linked to serious symptoms and complications. The onset of IBD commonly occurs during adolescence. Despite the significant number of cases globally (~5 million), the causes of pediatric IBD, which constitutes 25% of IBD patients, are not yet fully understood. Apart from environmental factors, genetic factors contribute to a higher risk of developing IBD. The predisposition risk of IBD can be investigated using genetic testing. Genetic mechanisms of pediatric IBD are highly complex which resulted in difficulty in selecting effective treatment or patient management. Genetic variation of IBD would serve as a basis for precision medicine and allow for the discovery of more robust treatment avenues for this condition in pediatric patients. This review aims to discuss the genetics of pediatric IBD, and current development in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment based on genetic profiling of pediatric IBD subjects toward more personalized management of this disease.