Gastrointestinal Disorders

Crohn disease-its development, flares, progression, need for drug therapy, and need for surgery-is affected by cigarette use.

A multinational panel took issue with a key element of the criteria, the centrality of pain or discomfort as a diagnostic criterion.

Patients with mild Crohn disease could avoid expensive and potentially harmful treatment if they are identified early.

IDA is commonly seen in IBD as a result of iron malabsorption and, ironically, chronic blood loss through disrupted mucosal surfaces.

GI specialists call for more systematically developed criteria for IBS diagnosis and often rely, like their primary care colleagues, on a process of exclusion.

Progressive weakness, confusion, and decreased oral intake preceded hospital admission for this 73-year-old man with a history of Parkinson dementia and resection for esophageal adenocarcinoma. The real problem, seen here, was revealed on a chest x-ray film.

A new study validates online delivery as an effective means of promoting dietary adherence in celiac disease, and this method may prove effective across diets for patients with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

Many common GI disorders are seen in the primary care setting. This compact slide show provides visual presentations of a range of these vexing problems.

The American College of Gastroenterology's last update to their gastroesophageal reflux disease guideline was published in 2005, so this February's new synthesis of more current treatment standards is welcome.

The rate of diagnosis for acute kidney injury in hospital admissions is higher with the use of high-potency statins than with low-potency statins, according to a retrospective observation analysis.

The mechanisms and effectiveness of probiotics in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease are emerging.

Emphysematous pancreatitis is a rare form of necrotizing pancreatitis. Free air within the pancreatic parenchyma is typically attributed to infection.

Researchers concluded that psychological factors might contribute to the development of this disorder but not ulcerative colitis.

These agents remain the mainstay of therapy for the majority of patients with the disease.

They are similar chronic inflammatory diseases with causes unknown, and recent clinical and genetic evidence supports an intertwined pathogenic relationship.

Therapy for ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease has been transformed with the introduction of anti–tumor necrosis factor treatment, according to University of Miami authors.

EoE is a chronic, immune/antigen-mediated esophageal disease. Clinical symptoms reflect esophageal dysfunction; histology is characterized by eosinophil-predominant inflammation.

Several classes of drugs seem to have positive effects for patients with GI disorders--including NSAIDs, anticonvulsants, alpha-adrenergic agents, neuromuscular agents, and antidepressants. Details here.

Here: an update on the challenges of detection, diagnosis, and management of celiac disease and non–celiac disease and the importance of gluten sensitivity.

Are you making the most out of your patients’ office visits? If you are not listening effectively, the answer is no, said Douglas A. Drossman, MD, at the American College of Gastroenterology 77th Annual Scientific Meeting in Las Vegas.

The number of patients who are dying because of upper GI bleeding has decreased over the past 2 decades, according to a study reported at the American College of Gastroenterology 77th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Patients who have chronic constipation may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer and benign neoplasms, researchers reported at the American College of Gastroenterology 77th Annual Scientific Meeting. In addition, new colonoscopy surveillance guidelines have been issued.

Despite warnings and concerns, the evidence points to this bottom line: PPIs are relatively safe over the long term.

Ulcerative colitis is primarily a mucosal disease, and other changes appear to be secondary to this process. By contrast, Crohn disease, or granulomatous colitis, involves the whole thickness of the bowel wall.

Intestinal helminthes represent one of the most prevalent types of human parasitic disease and remain a major health problem in developing countries.

The subcutaneous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor golimumab shows robust clinical responses, mucosal healing, and improved quality of life for ulcerative colitis patients who respond poorly to conventional treatments.

Is the increased risk of IBD due to pollution, a too-clean home, or antibiotics? Or none of the above?

An association between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and these two inflammatory bowel disorders has long been suspected but not, until now, documented.

Ulcerative colitis has a greater impact on patients’ quality of life than physicians perceive, and the disease affects their lives even more than the impact of other chronic conditions, according to paired surveys of doctors and patients.

Diagnostic colonoscopy revealed innumerable polyps carpeting the mucosa from the rectum to the cecum. Endoscopic findings and family history were most consistent with familial adenomatous polyposis.