Neutrophils at the Crossroads of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Atherosclerosis: A State-of-the-Art Review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a growing global problem, particularly in regions with low sociodemographic indices and growing populations. IBD incidence is increasing among children and adolescents, leading to a growing economic burden. The prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases among patients with IBD is also higher than in the general population. While mortality rates have decreased, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a significant contributor to mortality and disability in IBD patients. According to the current understanding, neutrophils play an important role in both the atherogenesis and pathogenesis of IBD. This review addresses the state of the art of neutrophil involvement in the development of atherosclerosis and IBD. In the present review, we summarize the currently available evidence regarding neutrophils as a possible key driver of extraintestinal manifestations of IBD and cardiovascular complications. We provide a discussion on the potential role of neutrophil-derived markers in the development of new approaches for the precise diagnosis of atherosclerosis in patients with IBD, as well as new therapeutic targets.