7 recent reports on the esophagus
Healio Gastroenterology presents the following reports on the most recent research on the esophagus and GERD.
These reports include new research on eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal hypervigilance and Barrett’s esophagus.
Tethered capsule provides high-quality images for Barrett’s esophagus
Researchers were able obtain high-quality images of Barrett’s esophagus using tethered capsule endomicroscopy, according to study results.
Guillermo Tearney, MD, PhD, from the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and colleagues wrote that the capsule, which uses optical coherence tomography, (OCT-TCE) provides 3D microscopic images of the esophagus for BE. READ MORE
Anti-reflux lifestyle leads to decreased risk for GERD symptoms in women
Women who adhered to an anti-reflux lifestyle had a decreased risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms, possibly preventing up to 40% of symptoms that occur weekly, according to study results.
“Adherence to an anti-reflux lifestyle, even among regular users of PPIs and/or [H2 receptor antagonists], was associated with a decreased risk of GERD symptoms and may prevent nearly 40%of GERD symptoms that occur at least weekly,” Raaj S. Mehta, MD, from the Clinical and Translational Epidemiology unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues wrote. “[GERD] is more common in white women aged 30 to 60 years. These data support the importance of lifestyle modification in management of GERD symptoms.” READ MORE
Short esophageal hypervigilance scale compares well with longer test
An esophageal hypervigilance and anxiety scale with fewer questions was reliable for measuring symptom severity and quality life, according to study results.
Tiffany H. Taft, PsyD, MIS, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote that they previously developed a 15-question esophageal hypervigilance and anxiety scale (EHAS), but a scale with a minimum number of questions is more clinically useful. READ MORE
FDA accepts Takeda’s NDA, grants review for budesonide oral suspension
Takeda Pharmaceutical announced the FDA accepted its new drug application and granted priority review for TAK-721, an investigational therapy budesonide oral suspension intended for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.
“EoE is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory disease localized in the esophagus,” Karen Lasch, MD, vice president, gastroenterology, U.S. Medical, told Healio Gastroenterology. “If left untreated, inflammation of EoE can worsen and narrow the esophagus over time, which can lead to food impaction that may necessitate urgent endoscopic intervention. Yet, there is no FDA-approved treatment option, so physicians and patients have limited choices. We believe they deserve more. The FDA’s acceptance of Takeda’s new drug application and granting of priority review for TAK-721 brings us one step closer to potentially bringing patients and physicians a new treatment option that may help address the chronic, localized esophageal inflammation of EoE.” READ MORE
Q&A: STAT6 variants linked to relapse of EoE in children who undergo PPI therapy
STAT6 gene variants correlated with relapse of eosinophilic esophagitis in children who are treated with proton pump inhibitor therapy, according to a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Healio Gastroenterology spoke with James P. Franciosi, MD, from Nemours Children's Health System and the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, about the recent study on the STAT6 variants in children who undergo PPI therapy for EoE. READ MORE
VIDEO: Atopy allergy patch tests link with improvements in EoE
In this exclusive video, Gaurav Ghosh, MD, from Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, discussed the use of comprehensive atopy allergy patch tests used to identify eosinophilic esophagitis hypersensitivity triggers.
The primary goal of the study was to determine if the patients had improvements in symptoms and on surveillance endoscopy after they avoided any allergens identified with the patch testing. READ MORE
Magnetic sphincter augmentation linked with long-term safety, efficacy for GERD
Magnetic sphincter augmentation resulted in long-term safety in efficacy regarding symptom improvement, decreased drug dependency and reduced esophageal acid exposure in gastroesophageal reflux disease.
“MSA may represent a true paradigm shift that has the potential to fill the current therapy gap in GERD,” Davide Ferrari, MD, from the department of biomedical sciences for health at the University of Milan, and colleagues wrote in Scientific Reports. “A randomized clinical trial comparing MSA and either total or partial fundoplication could provide more robust and definitive conclusions.” READ MORE