Falk Gastro Info 12/2022

Effect of colonoscopy screening on risks of colorectal cancer – the NordICC trial: In this randomized trial, the risk of colorectal cancer at 10 years was lower among participants who were invited to undergo screening colonoscopy than among those who were assigned to no screening.

Diet or medication in primary care patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): In this randomized trial in primary care patients, an app-supported low FODMAP diet was superior to a spasmolytic agent in improving IBS symptoms.

Loss of life expectancy and increased cardiovascular risk in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): A recent population-based Swedish cohort study shows that NAFLD patients have a reduced life expectancy (mean reduction of 2.8 years in the study). NAFLD was associated with a higher risk of non-fatal cardiovascular disease but had no impact on the risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease.

Course of hepatitis in celiac disease on a gluten-free diet: A monocentric Portuguese study shows that liver function tests normalize in the vast majority of celiac disease patients with hepatitis on a gluten-free diet and that there is no progression to chronic liver disease. However, many patients on a gluten-free diet exhibit hepatic steatosis, which may be due to the gluten-free diet that tends to be hyperlipidemic and hypercaloric.

Frequency of cardiac abnormalities in Wilson's disease: A recent Chinese retrospective study observed cardiac abnormalities in approximately 30% of adult patients with Wilson’s disease. A quarter of the patients were symptomatic, the other patients had asymptomatic ECG changes (increase in the width of the QRS complex, atrial premature beats, T-wave inversion, P-wave inversion, sinus bradycardia, ST segment changes). These data support a cardiac assessment of patients with Wilson’s disease.

Endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) for the treatment of severe and refractory Gastroparesis: G-POEM was superior to sham intervention for improving symptoms and gastric emptying after 6 months. Results were best in patients with diabetic gastroparesis and less conclusive in patients with postoperative or idiopathic etiologies.