Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

The Study of Biologic and Immunomodulator-Naïve Patients With Crohn's Disease (SONIC) showed that combination therapy with infliximab and azathioprine (IFX/AZA) is more effective than treatment with IFX alone. While enrollment was limited, numbers and types of adverse events were roughly equivalent among groups. A study in the January 2012 issue of CGH sought to define the frequency at which a rare adverse event would have to occur for the risks of combination therapy to outweigh the benefits of treatment. Dr. Kuemmerle speaks with author Dr. Corey Siegel of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center; Plus, summaries of the top stories from this month's issue of <i>GI and Hepatology News</i>.

Clostridium difficile infection is increasing in incidence, severity, and mortality. Treatment options are limited and appear to be losing efficacy, but fecal microbiota transplantation is safe, inexpensive, and effective. A “Perspective” article in the December issue of CGH looks at the rationale, methods, and use of fecal microbiota transplantation. Dr. Kuemmerle speaks with author Dr. Christina Surawciz of the University of Washington School of Medicine; Plus, summaries of the top stories from this month's issue of GI and Hepatology News.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been used to manage the complications of portal hypertension in cirrhosis, including variceal hemorrhage and refractory ascites. The uncoated TIPS stents are limited by stent stenosis; however, the introduction of coated stents has decreased this. Dr. Kuemmerle speaks with Dr. Arun Sanyal of Virginia Commonwealth School of Medicine about how this development changes management of complications of portal hypertension. We also recap the top stories from this month's issue of <i>GI and Hepatology News</i>.