Asian Pacific Digestive Week (APDW) 2021

The potassium-competitive acid blocker vonoprazan appears to be more effective than proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in healing severe erosive esophagitis and relieving the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to a meta-analysis presented at APDW 2021.

A 14-day quadruple therapeutic regimen containing vonoprazan – a first-in-class potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) with reportedly stronger acid inhibition than proton pump inhibitors – provided an excellent cure rate for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients with high clarithromycin and quinolone resistance regardless of CYP3A4/5 genotypic polymorphism, according to the prospective VQ-HP trial presented at APDW 2021.

According to a Hong Kong study presented at APDW 2021, the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is not associated with adverse clinical outcomes in individuals with COVID-19.

The treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) continues to rely on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), but advances in the field take account of new management options, such as antireflux surgery for reflux hypersensitivity and diaphragmatic breathing in refractory GERD or rumination, as pointed out during a lecture presented at this year’s virtual Asian Pacific Digestive Week (APDW 2021).

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, burnout has become prevalent among gastroenterologists in Southeast Asia, driven strongly by fears of getting infected and the stress of reduced income, according to a Singapore study presented at the recently concluded Asian Pacific Digestive Week 2021 (APDW 2021).

Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) results in a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhotic complications in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), particularly among those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study presented at the virtual Asian Pacific Digestive Disease Week (APDW) 2021.

Circulating tumour cells are more frequently detected in peripheral blood samples of patients with more advanced than early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study presented at the recently concluded Asian Pacific Digestive Week 2021.

Use of the oral antioxidant and anti-inflammatory n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) – be it alone or in combination with rectal indomethacin – may prevent the occurrence of post-ERCP* acute pancreatitis (PEAP), according to findings from a study presented at APDW 2021.

The presence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms does not appear to significantly contribute to any clinical outcomes in adult patients admitted for COVID-19, reveals a retrospective study in the Philippines.