Highlights from Crohn’s and Colitis Congress 2020
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Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease presents some of the top stories and research from Crohn’s and Colitis Congress 2020.
The meeting focused on the multidisciplinary approach to treating inflammatory bowel disease, as well as how physicians can incorporate patients as members of their own care team. We were on the ground in Austin, Texas, offering live coverage along with interviews with some of the top health care professionals in the field of IBD.
Here are some of our top stories from the conference.
Sibling donation of FMT linked to long-term UC remission
The use of sibling donation for fecal microbiota transplant led to long-term remission of ulcerative colitis more often than donation from a parent, according to a presenter at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress. Additionally, when donor and recipient were close in age – less than 10 years difference – researchers saw greater success.
“FMT between brother and sister has a significantly higher non-relapse rate than transplantation between spouses and children,” Koki Okahara, MD, of the Juntendo University Hospital, Bunkyoku, Tokyo, Japan, said during his presentation. “The over 11 years older group has a significantly lower non-relapse rate than the less than 10 years group.” REAM MORE
Diet-as-therapy in IBD relies on shared decision-making, compliance
Though clinical data for nutrition as therapy in IBD are limited, physicians should not be deterred from discussing it with patients if patients participate in the decision and comply as if the diet is a drug, according to an expert at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress.
“There are limitations to the clinical data for dietary therapy in IBD, but that should not be a deterrent,” Lindsey Albenberg, DO, of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said during her presentation. “The key is shared decision making and following objective outcomes closely. This is really critical.” READ MORE
Extraintestinal manifestations develop, worsen after Entyvio for IBD
Approximately 30% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease developed new or worsening extraintestinal manifestations after receiving Entyvio, according to data presented at Crohn’s and Colitis Congress extraintestinal manifestations.
The previous use of biologics and concomitant immunomodulator therapy had no significant effect on extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) after receiving vedolizumab (Entyvio, Takeda), according to the study results. READ MORE
‘The system is broken’ for IBD insurance denials, appeals
In a cycle of physician prescriptions, payer denials and repeated appeals, gastroenterologists often become advocates for their patients, according to a presenter at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress.
“I’m not anti-payer in many ways. I’m anti-medically irresponsible management and I recognize that we can’t do everything we want to do,” David T. Rubin, MD, of the University of Chicago, said during his presentation. READ MORE
Mirikizumab improves bowel movement urgency in ulcerative colitis
Patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis experienced improvements in bowel movement urgency after receiving mirikizumab, according to research presented at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress.
Marla Dubinsky, MD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease that urgency is commonly reported by patients with UC and has a significant impact on their lives. READ MORE
Choosing a roster of IBD therapies
Inflammatory bowel disease can vary drastically from patient to patient. There is not a one-size-fits-all therapy that can handle all that variance. At the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, experts provided an overview of the numerous IBD therapies to provide the attending physicians with some baseline knowledge before they started with the scientific sessions.
Bincy P. Abraham, MD, MS, AGAF, FACG, of the academic division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Houston Methodist-Weill Cornell in Houston, moderated the session and gave the presentation on Stelara (ustekinumab, Janssen). She told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease they covered all the major medications, from the early therapies, the 5ASAs, to steroids, biologics and newer agents. READ MORE
Patients with IBD ‘without a doubt’ struggle with mental health
Knowing the burden of inflammatory bowel disease and the constraints of time with gastroenterologists, advanced practice providers and registered nurses need to step into the role of confidant and referral for patients suffering from the mental burden of IBD, according to a experts and patients at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress.
“It’s so important as providers and RNs that we are routinely screening for anxiety and depression in these patients. The rates of depression range from 15% to 25%,” Nana Bernasko, RN, of Penn State Hershey Gastroenterology, said during her presentation. “Sometimes I just open up with, ‘How are you coping with all of this?’ ‘Are you home all the time?’ ‘Are you able to have a social life?’ ‘Do you feel like you’re secluded because of your disease?’ Start having the conversations with these people and try to put them in contact with the right resources.” READ MORE
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