Bowel
Disease course in patients with microscopic colitis
Results of a large European inception cohort indicate that a minority of patients with microscopic colitis follow a quiescent disease course whereas the majority suffers from chronic active or relapsing disease with significantly impaired quality of life.
Effectiveness of SARS-CoV2 vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
A large cohort study of veterans with IBD reveals that full vaccination has an 80,4% effectiveness in a broad population with diverse exposure to immunosuppressive therapies.
Relapse following discontinuation of infliximab in patients with ulcerative colitis
Results of a randomized controlled trial indicate that patients with discontinued infliximab therapy have a relapse rate of 45,7% within 48 weeks as compared to 19,6% in patients receiving continued infliximab therapy.
Liver
COVID-19 and liver disease
A recent study reveals that chronic liver disease increased the risk of COVID-19-related death in France in 2020. Therapeutic effort limitation may have contributed to COVID-19-related death in patients with a liver-related complication or an alcohol use disorder.
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
Accuracy of transient elastography at diagnosis of PBC (and thus in naive patients) has not been defined. A current study demonstrates that advanced fibrosis can indeed be excluded (liver stiffness measurement ≤ 6.5 kPa) or confirmed (> 11.0 kPa) in many patients in this setting using transient elastography. However, transient elastography is not reliable between these 2 cut-offs, and a liver biopsy may be necessary. BMI and liver biochemistry did not affect transient elastography.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
There are numerous non-invasive scoring systems for predicting fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. A current study examined the predictive power of these scores for the long-term outcome (risk of fibrosis, liver-related complications, or death). The NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), hepamet fibrosis score (HFS) and fibrosis 4 index (FIB-4) performed best.
Oesophagus Stomach Duodenum
Helicobacter pylori resistance to antibiotics
European study confirms higher resistance against clarithromycin and levofloxacin in Central/Western and Southern as compared to Northern Europe, which correlates with higher consumption of macrolides and quinolones. These findings should be considered when choosing eradication therapies.
Endoscopically normal findings in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
Approximately 10% of 878 patients with symptomatic EoE had macroscopically normal endoscopic findings, indicating that macroscopically normal findings should not preclude biopsies.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification and outcome in a randomized phase III trial of chemotherapy and panitumumab
EGFR copy numbers were accurately measured in tumor tissues and liquid biopsies and may be used to predict response to chemotherapy and prognosis.
Pancreas
Prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis
A meta-analysis involving 55 trials and 17,062 patients revealed that rectal diclofenac (100 mg) was the best performing rectal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Combinations with intravenous fluid therapies or pancreatic stenting may further increase the efficacy.