Gastroenterology

In part 1 of our 5-part discussion, experts discuss recent screening recommendation updates and the advent of new screening modalities.

The recent rise in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in younger patients has sparked a serious discussion about strategies to increase screening uptake and adherence, raising questions about the role of noninvasive tests versus the traditional “gold standard,” colonoscopy.

Qazi discusses the impact of having standardized definitions and treatment approaches for pouchitis and inflammatory conditions of the pouch.

The first quarterly issue of 2024 reviews a promising JAK inhibitor for acute severe ulcerative colitis, fenofibrates in PBC, new recommendations from the AGA, and a next generation multi-target DNA stool test for detecting colorectal cancer.

Recent recommendations from the AGA may help gastroenterologists manage the rising rate of pouchitis with the aid of clinical evidence.

Qazi discusses a review of the use of fenofibrate as a first-line therapy in treatment-naive patients with PBC and its implications for biochemical response.

New data suggest adding fibrate therapy to frontline PBC treatment could result in earlier and higher rates of biochemical response.

Qazi discusses tofacitinib’s role in acute severe ulcerative colitis management as a potential first-line therapy to increase treatment responsiveness.

Findings from a novel study supports the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib as a potential first-line therapy for ASUC.

Qazi discusses a review of the BLUE-C trial and explains the rise of noninvasive CRC screening and surveillance options, but highlights the need for colonoscopy nonetheless.

As clinicians work to improve CRC screening rates, a promising new test has shown favorable accuracy in detecting cases.

The post-hoc analysis found tenapanor significantly improved weekly scores for abdominal pain, discomfort, and bloating, as measured by the Abdominal Score.

A hypothetical triennial blood-based screening test meeting Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services coverage criteria was cost-effective versus no screening but not compared to FIT, sDNA-FIT, or colonoscopy.

Findings highlight non-inferiority for major morbidity and reduced detection of grade B or C POPF among patients who did not receive prophylactic passive abdominal drainage.

Results showed the cell-free DNA blood-based test had 83% sensitivity for colorectal cancer, 90% specificity for advanced neoplasia, and 13% sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions.

A new study suggests a next-generation stool DNA test from Exact Sciences has improved sensitivity for colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions but lower specificity than FIT.

Test your knowledge of the AGA Clinical Practice Guideline on Fecal Microbiota-Based Therapies for Select Gastrointestinal Diseases with this clinical quiz!

Jairath discusses disease clearance and optimal treatment targeting in UC, highlighting what the ongoing VERDICT trial hopes to add to our understanding of improving patient outcomes.

Positive topline results show apraglutide outperformed placebo for relative change from baseline in actual weekly parenteral support volume at week 24 in adults with SBS-IF.

Our February 2024 month in review highlights EoE pipeline news, new FMT guidelines, and research about endoscopic inflammation and disease activity in IBD.

Inflammatory markers, infliximab levels, and physician global assessment scores remained similar when assessed pre- and post-switch to an infliximab biosimilar.

Dubinsky discusses the importance of head-to-head trials in IBD and looks ahead to the use of combination therapy to achieve desired treatment outcomes.

Dubinsky discusses findings from a post-hoc analysis of the head-to-head SEQUENCE trial of risankizumab versus ustekinumab in patients with Crohn disease refractory to anti-TNF therapy.

Investigators from the guideline panel discuss the AGA’s recommendations regarding the use of fecal microbiota-based therapies for CDI, IBD, and IBS.

The guideline recommends fecal microbiota transplant in most cases of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection but does not suggest fecal microbiota-based therapies for IBD or IBS.