Falk Gastro Info 2/2025

Karlqvist S, Am J Gastroenterol. 2024;119(12):2480-2492

Risk of infection with vedolizumab and TNF antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease: In this analysis of Swedish registry data, the risk of serious infections in patients with Crohn's disease was significantly higher with vedolizumab therapy than with TNF antibodies. In ulcerative colitis, however, the risk was comparable with both therapies. Risk of infection was about 5-fold higher in vedolizumab-treated IBD patients compared to the healthy population.

O'Sullivan T, Gut. 2024;74(1):67-74

Surveillance colonoscopies after endoscopic resection of large polyps with thermal ablation of the resection margins: The long-term risk of recurrence after successful endoscopic mucosal resection with thermal treatment of the resection margins of large polyps ≥ 20 mm is low according to this prospective observational study, so that follow-up surveillance endoscopies after 6 months and then after 3–5 years are likely to be sufficient.

Tunali V et al, Am J Gastroenterol. 2024;119(9):1901-1912

Dietary approaches for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A microbiome-based artificial intelligence-assisted personalized diet resulted in similar symptom improvements as compared to a low FODMAP diet in IBS patients in this randomized multicenter trial.

Jachs M, Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024;9(12):1111-1120

Spleen stiffness measurement using transient elastography can predict the presence of clinically significant portal hypertension: This study with data from more than 400 patients with chronic liver disease from 16 European centers shows that spleen stiffness measurement in combination with body mass index and platelet count can predict the presence of clinically significant portal hypertension with comparable accuracy as liver stiffness measurement. The combination of liver and spleen stiffness measurements with body mass index and platelet count improves the currently available diagnostic models.

Thornton CS, Gut. 2024;73(10):1702-1711

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy as a possible source of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections – Canadian study with patients after lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis: Immunosuppression after organ transplantation is a risk factor for chronic courses of HEV infection. In this Canadian study, phylogenetic analyzes of HEV isolates from chronically infected transplant recipients (n = 3) and HEV isolates found in 44% of the pancreatic enzyme preparations examined suggest that the porcine derived-pancreatic enzyme preparations could be a possible source of infection.

Rodriguez PJ, JAMA Intern Med. 2024;184(9):1056-1064

Semaglutide versus tirzepatide for weight loss: In this large prospective cohort study, treatment with the dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide labeled for diabetes was more effective in terms of weight loss than with the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide with comparable gastrointestinal tolerability.

Alsoud D, Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2024;30(12):2289-2296

Risankizumab in multirefractory Crohn's disease: In this Belgian real-world multirefractory cohort with moderate to severe Crohn's disease (almost all pretreated with ≥ 4 different advanced therapies including ustekinumab), 58% and 27% of patients treated with the IL-23 antibody risankizumab achieved a steroid-free clinical response and remission after 1 year, respectively.