7 recent reports on COVID-19 in GI

Healio Gastroenterology presents the following reports on the most recent research on COVID-19 is gastrointestinal conditions.

These reports include new research on the impact of COVID-19 in GI bleeding, GI neoplasia detection, transmission during endoscopy and its effect on fecal microbiota transmission.

Anticoagulants do not increase GI bleeding in COVID-19

Anticoagulation use or antiplatelet agents were not risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, according to a study published in Journal of Internal Medicine. READ MORE

COVID-19: 1st wave significantly reduced GI neoplasia detection

A typically high-volume endoscopy unit in Italy saw a significant reduction in procedures in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research presented at ESGE Days.

Sebastian M. Milluzzo, MD, from Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero in Brescia, Italy, said that since Italy was the first European country to experience a COVID-19 outbreak, hospitals there were seriously impacted in early 2020. READ MORE

COVID-19 transmission during endoscopy unlikely in lockdown setting

The transmission of COVID-19 in endoscopy units is unlikely in settings where cases were reduced and proper use of PPE was maintained, according to research presented at ESGE Days.

Ioannis S. Papanikolaou, MD, PhD, from the hepatogastroenterology unit at Attikon General Hospital in Greece, said the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impact on the practice of endoscopy. READ MORE

Risk stratification policy adequately assesses procedure postponement during COVID-19

A triage policy developed during the first wave of COVID-19 seemed ‘adequate’ regarding significant diagnosis and impact on patient management, based on the assessment of postponed procedures, according to a presentation at ESGE Days. READ MORE

VIDEO: COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges to FMT therapy

In this exclusive video, Jessica Allegretti, MD, MPH, director of the fecal microbiota center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, discusses how FMT has transformed treatment in a number of GI conditions.

Allegretti won the Clinical Innovation Award at the 2020 Disruptive Innovator awards. Healio Gastroenterology presents the awards to physicians who push the boundaries of medicine and care to better the field of gastroenterology and liver diseases. Allegretti was honored for her research in FMT. READ MORE

Remicade blunts serological response in SARS-CoV-2

Remicade use in inflammatory bowel disease was linked to attenuated serological response to SARs-CoV-2, which were further blunted by immunomodulators used as concomitant therapy, according to a study published in Gut. READ MORE

Patients presenting with COVID-19, GI symptoms have reduced mortality

Patients with COVID-19 who presented with gastrointestinal symptoms had reduced mortality, according to research published in Gastroenterology.

Saurabh Mehandru, MD, from the Precision Immunology Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, explored how an intestinal infection with SARS-CoV-2 affected disease pathogenesis. READ MORE.