Predictors of Subsequent Celiac Disease Seropositivity in Patients Diagnosed with Duodenal Villus Atrophy on Upper Endoscopy.

Background: The diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) is based on positive IgA autoantibodies to tissue transglutaminase (TTG IgA) and confirmatory histopathology demonstrating duodenal villus atrophy (VA). Diagnostic challenges can occur when VA is found on duodenal biopsies in patients without prior CD serologies.

Aims: To characterize the predictors of CD seropositivity in patients with VA on biopsy without prior CD serologies.

COVID-19 in patients with liver disease and liver transplant: clinical implications, prevention, and management.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had enormous implications for the care of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), cirrhosis, and liver transplant (LT). Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 vary in patients with CLD and cirrhosis compared to healthy controls, and in patients with LT compared to patients without LT. Several special considerations apply to the approach to vaccination and treatment in patients with CLD and LT.

Celiac Disease in the Elderly.

Purpose Of Review: This review highlights literature from the past several years and explores the impact on current understanding of celiac disease diagnosis, complications, and management in older adults.

Recent Findings: Celiac disease in the elderly is becoming increasingly prevalent but remains underdiagnosed, with a high potential burden of downstream morbidity and modestly increased risk of mortality. Clinical presentations are often related to extraintestinal symptoms and can be subtle.

The role of gastrointestinal pathogen polymerase chain reaction testing in liver transplant recipients hospitalized with diarrhea.

Background: Diarrhea is a common symptom among liver transplant (LT) recipients and can result in significant morbidity. The utility of PCR-based multiplex gastrointestinal (GI) pathogen panels in this population is unknown.

Methods: We assessed incidence, predictors, and outcomes of GI PCR positivity among inpatients who underwent stool pathogen testing with the FilmArray multiplex GI PCR panel at our institution within 1 year following LT from April 2015 to December 2019.

Inherited Predisposition to Gastric Cancer.

Approximately 10% of patients with gastric cancer show familial aggregation and up to 3% are related to an inherited cancer syndrome. There are multiple germline pathogenic variants and cancer syndromes associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. Appropriate assessment of familial and genetic risk may allow a personalized approach to gastric cancer prevention through screening and risk-reducing surgeries.