Imaging test to detect bowel scarring in Crohn's disease

This research study is testing a new imaging technique using a special dye called FAPI (fibrosis associated protein inhibitor) that can detect scarring in the bowel of people with Crohn's disease. The dye is combined with standard PET and CT scan imaging to identify early-stage scarring and track how active it is. If this method works, it could help doctors detect permanent bowel damage before it becomes severe and help develop new treatments to prevent scarring.

Currently, doctors cannot easily detect early bowel scarring in Crohn's disease using non-invasive tests, and they cannot tell how active the scarring process is. Up to 70% of Crohn's patients eventually need surgery because of scarring, but all current treatments only target inflammation—not the scarring itself. This study aims to create the first reliable way to identify and track scarring activity, which could lead to new medications that prevent permanent bowel damage.