In the News
Guideline newly recommends biomarkers to monitor Crohn's disease
The American Gastroenterological Association offered advice on using blood and stool tests to monitor inflammation and reduce the frequency of invasive endoscopy.
Thalidomide reduced bleeding in patients with small-intestinal angiodysplasia
A total of 68.6% of patients who were randomized to 100 mg of thalidomide daily (taken in four doses a day) had a reduction of at least 50% in bleeding episodes in the year after treatment compared to 16% of those on placebo.
For ulcerative colitis, ustekinumab safe, effective through 4 years, industry study finds
Most patients who had symptomatic remission of their ulcerative colitis on the drug maintained it without corticosteroids, an extension of a randomized trial found.
MKSAP Quiz: Evaluation for gastroesophageal reflux disease
A 55-year-old man is evaluated for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). He has a 20-year history of GERD, which is well controlled with medication, and is an active smoker. Following a physical exam and finding of a chest radiograph, what is the most appropriate management?
Spotlight on gluten avoidance
An industry-funded trial of patients with self-reported gluten sensitivity found that symptoms were tied to the expectation of gluten more than actual consumption, while a study of celiac disease patients found that their symptoms often persisted after elimination of gluten.
KDIGO updates guidelines on treating hepatitis C in chronic kidney disease
The latest recommendations from Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), which were recently summarized in Annals, address sofosbuvir treatment in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, among other topics.
Endoscopic strategies for large colonic adenomas compared
Endoscopic submucosal dissection reduces recurrence but carries more adverse event risk than endoscopic mucosal resection, a multicenter French trial found.
In symptomatic adults undergoing high-resolution manometry, long-term opioid use was linked to esophageal dysmotility
The results of a recent meta-analysis highlight the need for clinicians to widen their perspective on the risks of opioids to include both upper and lower GI motility disorders, an ACP Journal Club commentary said.
Case reports cover drug-related GI and liver issues
Turmeric-induced liver injury, azithromycin-induced liver injury, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms triggered by topical diclofenac were recently discussed.