Ketogenic Diet Linked to Rare Rash, Early Crohn's Test Emerges

A rare rash with hyperpigmentation has been linked to the ketogenic diet, according to a case study, while a new blood test promises earlier detection of Crohn's disease. The developments, highlighted across multiple sources, underscore the importance of considering dietary history in dermatological diagnoses and offer hope for improved Crohn's disease treatment outcomes.

The case study, detailed in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved a 20-year-old man in Taiwan who visited a dermatology clinic with a strange rash that had developed across his shoulders and chest. The raised, red, and itchy condition had bothered him for a month. He had also developed patches of pigmented skin interlaced with the red rash. A skin biopsy showed swelling between his skin cells and inflammation around blood vessels, but testing came up negative for other common signs of skin conditions, leaving doctors with few leads. The doctors ultimately came to a diagnosis not by analyzing his skin further but by hearing about his diet.

Separately, a novel blood test offers early detection of Crohn's disease by identifying immune responses to gut bacteria. This early detection potentially enables earlier interventions and improved outcomes for patients.