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Digestive Disease Week 2013
May 18-21, 2013; Orlando, FL
Linaclotide Improves Abdominal and Bowel Symptoms
An analysis of two phase 3 trials found that a higher percentage of patients who received linaclotide to treat abdominal and bowel symptoms had clinically meaningful improvement compared with a group receiving placebo. The clinically meaningful thresholds were based on a patient’s assessment of adequate relief. Results were presented during a poster session at Digestive Disease Week 2013.
Treatment Options for Ulcerative Colitis
Clinicians have numerous options to treat patients with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. The therapies include 5-amino-salacylic acid, thiopurine, and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents such as infliximab. Surgical options include conventional ileostomy, continent ileostomy, ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, and ileorectal anastomosis.
Colorectal Cancer Screening and Colonoscopies
As screening rates for colorectal cancer have increased in recent years, the incidence and death rates due to the disease have declined. Still, approximately 22 million people in the United States have never been screened, and the survival rate for late-stage colorectal cancer remains small. During a satellite symposium at Digestive Disease Week 2013, physicians discussed the importance of colonoscopies and screening.
Extended Duration Thromboprophylaxis for Venous Thromboembolism
Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) who took extended duration thromboprophylaxis had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $8123 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), according to a cost-effectiveness decision tree model. The threshold for the relative cost-effectiveness was a VTE incidence exceeding 2.53%. James C. Iannuzzi, MD, the study’s lead author, presented the results during a plenary session at Digestive Disease Week 2013.
