University of Texas at Dallas researchers have designed a wearable device that monitors sweat for biomarkers that could signal flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A sensor in the device detects and quantifies the presence of two key biomarkers associated with inflammatory bowel disease: interleukin-1β and C-reactive protein (CRP). That the device collects passive sweat is important because people with IBD may be unable to exercise at levels needed to generate active sweat, Prasad said. Symptoms include fatigue and abdominal pain, with diarrhea in patients with Crohn’s disease and stool urgency in those with ulcerative colitis. “A wearable microsensor device would have the potential to empower patients to be actively engaged in monitoring their disease and managing it,” Honig said.