Clinical Trend of the Week (April 7-13): IBD
A slew of important developments—including newly identified potential causes, risk factors and associations, and treatment options—combined to increase the popularity of this week's top search term. In Japan, researchers used a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to demonstrate the importance of a protein signaling pathway to the development of colonic inflammation. Although much more investigation is still needed, this finding may help identify novel targets for new IBD treatments.
In terms of those treatments, a new meta-analysis in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics questioned the merits of advising patients with IBD to avoid all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The researchers examined 13 studies from 1983-2016 and found a link between NSAID use and exacerbation of Crohn disease, but no such association with ulcerative colitis. They also found no consistent link between IBD exacerbation and acetaminophen or cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors. The researchers suggest a need for larger, well-designed studies that investigate the use of NSAIDs in patients with established IBD.
Elsewhere, new research also found an association between dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors used to treat type 2 diabetes and an increased risk for IBD. This is potentially important news for primary care clinicians, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, and patients. Finally, and perhaps most important, new research suggests that patients with IBD are at significantly higher risk for myocardial infarction. This increased risk is particularly noted in younger patients and women.
Considering the wealth of potentially crucial new information recently published, the popularity of this week's top search term is no surprise.
For more information on IBD, read here.
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Cite this: Ryan Syrek. Trending Clinical Topics for April 2018 - Medscape - Apr 27, 2018.
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