Visceral Obesity as a Predictor of Clinical Relapse in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background and AimsIn Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), adipose tissue is postulated to be a source of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines, which may affect disease outcomes.In patients with treatment refractory IBD, abdominal body composition is often characterized by excessive fat deposition and skeletal muscle deficits [1].The accumulation of hypertrophic mesenteric adipose tissue and the phenomenon of "creeping fat" in both the small and large bowel are recognized as unique characteristics of Crohn's Disease (CD).Several aspects of body composition have been investigated to assess outcomes in IBD including body mass index (BMI), visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and muscle mass [2].BMI, as an anthropometric measure, is non-specific and not a reliable predictor of visceral or subcutaneous adiposity.Imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used in studies to provide more accurate assessments of fat distribution.The aim of this study was to assess the role of adiposity, particularly visceral adipose tissue, in predicting clinical relapse in patients with IBD.