Gastroenterology Miniseries (Dr Falk)

Gastroenterology Miniseries – Dr Falk (Part 4).

The treatment paradigm in ulcerative colitis (UC) is rapidly evolving beyond symptom control with the aim of achieving mucosal healing and steroid-free remission, associated with reduced rates of UC-related hospital admissions, avoiding the need for a colectomy, and improving quality of life.

It’s important that we make the most of the treatments we have, and not give up on a treatment if there’s a chance to make it work. 

In this interview we discuss the optimisation of 5-ASA medications in the management of patients with mild to moderate UC.

Gastroenterology Miniseries (Part 3).

Multidisciplinary team meetings have proven efficacy in cancer management as well as being widely implemented in the management of chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, however not all treating clinicians (particularly those in rural/regional areas, or even many of those in private practices) have access to these high quality and integrated meetings.

Given the potential for an MDT-based approach to potentially improve patient quality of care, patient satisfaction and patient outcomes, it only makes sense that such a service can be offered to the wider gastroenterology community.

In this interview we talk to Jake Begun, who along with his team at Queensland IBD have implemented the first dedicated state-wide virtual MDT in Australia.

Gastroenterology Miniseries (Part 2).

The past several years have seen an expansion in therapeutic options to care for our patients with IBD, with more agents to come in the near future.

Conventional therapies such as thiopurines, methotrexate, aminosalicylates and steroids have been supplemented by the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors (ground-breaking when they first arrived), the anti-integrin vedolizumab, the antiIL-12/23 p40 inhibitor ustekinumab and, more recently, the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib over the past few years.

Our expectations and treatment goals have subsequently risen substantially, such that our aim for patients is to achieve sustained clinical remission, achieve endoscopic and possibly histologic and transmural healing, prevent complications and achieve as close to a normal quality of life as possible for our patients.

Gastroenterology Miniseries (Part 1).

There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence and prevalence of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) in recent years, and not just because of an increased physician awareness of the disease.

EoE is a chronic, progressive disease, and long-standing inflammation can lead to oesophageal remodelling, including the formation of oesophageal strictures, negatively impacting patients’ quality of life.

In this interview we discuss the diagnosis of EoE and how to effectively manage this condition in both the short- and long-term.