Gastro Update Europe 2020.

This narrative review summarizes a selection of clinically important novel gastrointestinal developments, presented and discussed at the virtual Gastro Update Europe. The selected topics, fully referenced, reflect what the distinguished faculty considered of vital importance to be communicated to the astute busy gastro-hep clinician who is eager to stay abreast of important novel developments. Whenever appropriate, a personal comment or addition was added to further raise the educational value of this review. Given its narrative character, statements and conclusions are largely expert opinion based. A full reference list of the lectures is included.

Reflections on esophageal columnar metaplasia (Barrett)-ANNO 2015.

Esophageal columnar metaplasia (ECM) (Barrett's esophogus) continues to generate clinical and basic attention. Yet many questions remain unanswered and global consensus on important issues is often still lacking. This article discusses a selection of certain recent findings and reflects on some remaining uncertainties of this intriguing disease.

Endoscopist's view of the future role of the gastroenterologist in digestive oncology.

Improvement in digestive oncology will require the creation of multidisciplinary teams. Expert gastroenterologists who are super-specializing in digestive oncology (onco-gastroenterologists) should be in the center of such highly qualified teams. To fulfill this role the onco-gastroenterologist will need adequate training in all aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic activities related to digestive cancer. This article reflects the spectrum of expertise that will be necessary to guarantee optimal service.

Recent developments in gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus: ANNO 2012.

The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal columnar metaplasia is rising worldwide. Both mechanical and functional factors perturb the double sphincter barrier at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). Discovery of the acid pocket is fundamental in understanding postprandial acid reflux. Adding impedencemetry to pH measurements allows detection of non-acid or weakly acidic reflux. Histologic and endoscopic injury of the squamous mucosa rises from dilation of the intercellular spaces, papillary extension, accentuated intrapapillary looping, red streaks, erosive tissue loss, etc., graded with the Los Angeles system. Seventy percent of patients have no recognizable abnormalities (non-erosive or neGERD). Treatment of GERD mainly relates to the control of acid secretion but a revival of alginate/antacid obliterating the acid pocket is to be expected. Weaker heartburn control in neGERD is a misnomer because most studies included patients with no evidence of reflux disease. Traditional (delayed-release) proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are powerful suppressors of acid secretion but do have limitations such as gradual build up of acid control, weak control of nocturnal acid recovery, possibility of rebound, occasional need for dose escalation, etc. Barrett's esophagus (BE) is endoscopically diagnosed also in the absence of intestinal metaplasia. A prerequisite is the precise location of the EGJ (proximal end of gastric folds, esophageal sphincter pinch, distal extent of palisade vessels). BE is graded with the Prague C & M system. Barrett's cancer develops usually via low-grade and high-grade dysplasia. Endoscopic examination may indicate suspicious areas, amenable for targeted biopsy. Otherwise, four quadrant biopsies are obtained when searching for neoplasia. Low-grade dysplasia, especially when it is multifocal and p53 positive, high-grade dysplasia and mucosal cancer should be treated with endoscopic resection of the target area, followed by radiofrequency ablation of the adjacent non-neoplastic columnar mucosa, followed with powerful acid suppressant therapy. The long-term results of the combination of resection and ablation are exiting and at least comparable to surgical resection.

Non-erosive reflux disease--defining the entity and delineating the management.

In the developed world, most patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) do not exhibit erosions when examined by standard white light endoscopy. Despite the high prevalence of such non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), relatively little is known of its underlying pathophysiology, hence there is no clear guide to clinical management. To establish areas of agreement or uncertainty in NERD, an international meeting was held in Vevey, Switzerland, in late 2007. The goal was to document current thinking in the areas of clinical presentation, assessment of clinical outcome, pathobiological mechanisms, and define optimal clinical strategies to diagnose and manage NERD. After extensive debates, the modified Delphi technique was utilized to reach a consensus on 85 specific statements. In addition, it was proposed that NERD be defined as 'a subcategory of GERD characterised by troublesome reflux-related symptoms in the absence of esophageal mucosal erosions/breaks at conventional endoscopy and without recent acid suppressive therapy'. Evidence in support of this diagnosis may include responsiveness to acid suppression therapy, abnormal reflux monitoring or the identification of specific novel endoscopic findings. Defining the current state of knowledge in NERD should help improve the elucidation and management of this condition in the future.

The value of esophageal histology in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with heartburn and normal endoscopy.

Histologic markers of reflux-induced mucosal injury are demonstrable in patients with nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (neGERD). They include papillary elongation, basal cell hyperplasia, and dilation of intercellular spaces, especially of the prickle layer. These abnormalities are responsive to acid-suppressive therapy. Unfortunately, the longitudinal and circumferential distributions of these anomalies are nonuniform. They are presumably focalized on top of the esophageal folds, where the brunt of acid exposure and injury occurs. Therefore, based on current evidence, routine, random, nontargeted biopsies of the distal esophagus cannot be recommended in patients with neGERD. This may change if future studies reveal a high sensitivity and specificity of biopsies obtained from the squamocolumnar junction and the tops of the mucosal folds at 2 cm and 4 to 5 cm in patients with neGERD.

The development and validation of an endoscopic grading system for Barrett's esophagus: the Prague C & M criteria.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition for esophageal adenocarcinoma, its diagnosis relying initially on recognition of a columnar-lined distal esophagus. We aimed to develop and validate explicit, consensus-driven criteria for the endoscopic diagnosis and grading of BE. METHODS: An international working group agreed on criteria and developed materials for their formal evaluation using video-endoscopic recordings gathered in a standardized manner in 29 patients. The criteria included assessment of the circumferential (C) and maximum (M) extent of the endoscopically visualized BE segment as well as endoscopic landmarks. The recordings were scored according to these criteria by a separate international panel of 29 endoscopists. RESULTS: The Prague C & M Criteria give explicit guidance on the endoscopic recognition of BE and grading of its extent. The overall reliability coefficients (RC) for the assessment of the C & M extent of the endoscopic BE segment above the gastroesophageal junction were 0.95 and 0.94, respectively. The rates of exact agreement (for C & M values) for pairwise comparisons of individual patient values were 53% and 38%, respectively, whereas the values for agreement within a 2-cm interval were 97% and 95%, respectively. The overall RC for endoscopic recognition of BE >/=1 cm was 0.72, whereas for BE <1 cm, it was 0.22. The RCs for recognizing the location of the gastroesophageal junction and the diaphragmatic hiatus were 0.88 and 0.85, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Prague C & M Criteria have high overall validity for the endoscopic assessment of visualized BE lengths.

Outcome of peptic ulcer bleeding, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, and Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: NSAIDs and Helicobacter pylori are risk factors for the development of peptic ulcers. A prospective study was conducted to determine prevalence of NSAID use, H pylori infection, and outcome of peptic ulcer bleeding. METHODS: In 2000, data of all 361 patients presenting with peptic ulcer bleeding were prospectively collected in a defined geographical area, including 14 hospitals, and serving a catch area of 1.68 million persons. Follow-up data after a mean of 31 months were obtained from 211 patients. RESULTS: The overall incidence was 21.5 cases per 100,000 persons. Mean age of the group was 70.9 years, 55% were male, and 41% had severe or life-threatening comorbidity. NSAIDs were used by 52%, and in only 17% concomitant acid suppressive therapy was given. H pylori infection was tested in 64%. Of the patients tested for H pylori, 43% were positive. Twenty-three percent were H pylori negative and not using NSAIDs. Rebleeding during initial admission occurred in 19%. Mortality during initial admission was 14%. During follow-up mortality was high, 29%. CONCLUSIONS: Half of all ulcer bleeding was associated with NSAID use. Only a minority of NSAID users used concomitant acid suppressive therapy. H pylori is not assessed systematically in all patients with ulcer bleeding. Almost a quarter of the ulcers were associated with neither H pylori infection nor NSAID use. Mortality, both during hospitalization and follow-up, was substantial.