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New Crohn's treatments, low FODMAP diet among top gastroenterology topics in 2016
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Emerging therapies in Crohn’s disease, specifically mongersen and Stelara, as well as the low FODMAPs diet in irritable bowel syndrome were among the most popular news topics covered by Healio Gastroenterology this year.
To recap the year’s hottest topics in the specialty, we have compiled a list of the top 10 most read news articles in gastroenterology presented by Healio.com in 2016.
1. Mongersen more effective at high dose among Crohn's patients with more active disease
In March, we reported that patients with the highest Crohn’s Disease Activity Index scores were the most likely to experience remission with the highest dose of the experimental medication mongersen, according to a post hoc analysis of a phase 2 study. Read more
Honorable mention: A more recent report on mongersen trial results presented at UEG Week also ranked as one of our most read articles of the year. Read more
2. Researchers find biological explanation for non-celiac wheat sensitivity
Individuals who experience sensitivity to wheat in the absence of celiac disease or wheat allergy had compromised intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and resulting systemic immune activation, according to the results of study published in Gut, which we reported in July. Read more
3. ACG releases new clinical guideline on nutrition therapy for hospitalized adults
In March, the ACG issued new practice guideline recommendations on nutrition therapy for adult hospitalized patients.
“The target population for these guidelines was the adult hospitalized patient, unable to sustain volitional intake, expected to remain in the hospital for [more than] 3 days,” the guideline committee wrote. Read more
4. FDA approves Stelara for Crohn's disease
In September, the FDA approved Stelara for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe active Crohn’s disease for whom previous therapies have failed. Stelara (ustekinumab, Janssen) is the first biologic for Crohn’s disease that targets interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 cytokines. Read more
Honorable mention: UNITI-2 trial results presented at the ACG meeting in October showed Stelara was effective for treating Crohn's disease. Read more
5. Fructose malabsorption, symptom severity, IBS subtype predict response to low FODMAP diet
Irritable bowel syndrome patients experienced greater benefits from a low FODMAP diet if they had a positive fructose breath test, greater symptom severity at baseline, and a mixed IBS subtype, according to data presented at the British Society of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting in June. Read more
6. Low FODMAP diet may significantly improve IBS symptoms
Researchers observed that dietary fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides and monosaccharides and polyols — or FODMAPs — were linked to symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and variations in the metabolome, according to results from a controlled, single blind study we reported in March. Read more
7. FDA approves first blood test for colorectal cancer
In April, the FDA approved the Epi proColon blood-based screening test for the early detection of colorectal cancer. Read more
8. Dietary fiber associated with reduced Crohn's disease flares
In January, we reported that researchers suggested re-evaluating recommendations to limit dietary fiber due to evidence that disease flares in patients with Crohn’s disease may be reduced with the intake of dietary fiber. However, in the study, the reduced flares were not observed in patients with ulcerative colitis. Read more
9. Rome IV diagnostic criteria for functional GI disorders released at DDW
The international, nonprofit Rome Foundation revealed the fourth edition of its diagnostic criteria for functional GI disorders at Digestive Disease Week, which provides a new definition for functional GI disorders and includes new adult and pediatric diagnoses and diagnostic changes for irritable bowel syndrome. Read more
10. USPSTF colorectal cancer scr eening guidelines challenged
In an opinion essay published in Annals of Internal Medicine in November, several European clinicians argue that the current colorectal cancer screening recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lack strength and quality of evidence. Read more