Digestive Disease Week 2007 Report: Part 2

Part 2 of a series of reports, highlighting a selection of key sessions held during Digestive Disease Week (DDW) earlier this year, has been released. Close to 17,000 physicians, researchers and academics attending the DDW meeting held in Washington DC to learn about the latest advances in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery; prevention, diagnosis and treatment of digestive disorders; and cutting-edge technological advances.

In the United States, alcohol remains the major cause of end-stage liver disease and liver-related mortality, as well as the primary indication for liver transplant decisions when severity of illness determines treatment. Biomarker tests for alcohol excess, questionnaires and tools for evaluating the likelihood of alcohol-related disease were discussed. The value and role of "scores" in assessing the prognosis of alcoholic hepatitis were reviewed, as were therapies for the disease.

The results of two European randomised trials comparing anti-reflux surgery with PPI therapy were presented. These studies confirmed the comparable long-term efficacy of modern medical therapy for reflux disease in comparison with surgery in well-designed head-to head comparisons, and re-affirm the need for dose adjustment of PPI therapy in order to achieve optimal control.

Professor Gerald Holtmann provides an overview of a number of studies, including the association of nuts, corn and popcorn with diverticular disease; the high incidence of post-traumatic sclerosing cholangitis in certain ICU patients; the association of diabetes with peptic ulcer disease; and a comparison of albumin and synthetic colloid to prevent hypovolaemia following large volume paracentesis.

Finally, Dr Martin Weltman summarizes a study on the prevalence, diagnosis, cause and treatment of eosinophilic oesophagitis; and a study on the use of expanded adipose-derived stem cells for complex perianal fistula.