Monitoring bowel healing after balloon stretching in Crohn's disease

This study watches what happens to your bowel after you have a balloon stretching procedure (called endoscopic balloon dilatation) to treat a narrowed section caused by Crohn's disease. Researchers want to understand whether inflammation in the bowel before the narrowed area gets better or worse after the stretching, and what factors might affect healing. They'll use blood tests, stool samples, ultrasound imaging, and camera exams to track your bowel over 12 weeks.

Some people with Crohn's disease develop narrowed sections in their bowel that need to be stretched open. Doctors want to know whether the inflammation that builds up before these narrowed areas improves after stretching, and what signs might predict whether the narrowing comes back. Understanding this could help doctors better care for Crohn's patients and decide who benefits most from stretching versus other treatments.