Refractory coeliac disease (RCD) is characterized by the persistence or recurrence of symptoms and signs of malabsorption associated with villous atrophy in patients with coeliac disease who have adhered to a strict gluten-free diet (GFD) for more than 12 months.^1–3 Serology is usually negative or, in a small percentage of cases, positive at a low titre.⁴ Splenic hypofunction, a risk factor for RCD, can be indicated by Howell–Jolly bodies and pitted red cells in a peripheral blood smear. A reduced spleen size visible on ultrasound examination also provides direct evidence of hyposplenism.⁵ 

Abdominal distension and bloating are among the most frequently misunderstood complaints in gastroenterology. They are often used as interchangeable terms, a conceptual mistake that continues to drive diagnostic errors and ineffective treatment. According to Rome IV, bloating and distension may represent either a primary disorder of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) or occur as symptoms with other DGBIs, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia (FD) or functional constipation (FC).

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains an important global health concern. It is estimated that there are approximately 50 million people infected with HCV globally, with around 1 million new infections each year and about 242,000 deaths annually attributed to HCV-related complications. Most acute HCV infections (55–85%) become chronic due to the virus’s effective evasion strategies, with spontaneous clearance being rare once chronicity is established. This condition often progresses silently, with many individuals unaware of their infection until advanced liver damage has occurred. If left untreated, HCV can lead to severe complications, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV transmission occurs mainly through percutaneous exposure to infected blood. HCV can also spread from mother to infant (vertical transmission) and, less frequently, via sexual contact.1,2 In recent years, the introduction of oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), with remarkable safety and effectiveness profiles, has led to a sustained virological response (SVR) in virtually all (>97%) HCV-infected patients, regardless of HCV genotype or disease stage. However, significant barriers remain, such as issues with diagnosis, access to treatment and awareness of the disease.

Here, we discuss some of the misconceptions in HCV management and provide a practical management approach grounded in evidence and clinical experience.

Acute diverticulitis is an inflammatory complication of diverticulosis and can either be uncomplicated or complicated. Making the distinction between uncomplicated and complicated acute diverticulitis is essential because treatment strategies differ between the two. Here, we discuss 10 mistakes frequently made when managing patients with acute diverticulitis. We focus on using the correct terminology, diagnostic preference and several treatment options, such as omitting or administering antibiotics, radiological interventions and various aspects of surgery. Acute diverticulitis is an important topic because its incidence is rising worldwide and it is becoming a considerable burden on healthcare systems. Most of the discussion included here is evidence-based, supplemented with many years’ combined clinical experience where evidence is lacking.

The term ‘gastroparesis’ was first coined by Kassander in 1958 to describe the fact that barium did not leave the stomach of patients with diabetes for over 24 hours — so-called ‘gastroparesis diabeticorum’. Nowadays it refers to a delay in gastric emptying that is associated with symptoms primarily of nausea and vomiting as well as the absence of mechanical obstruction. In 1958, 21 cases were described, but in 2019, 5 million US individuals were diagnosed as having gastroparesis. This rapid increase in prevalence is likely to have occurred because it has become much easier to measure gastric emptying and to attribute symptoms to this without necessarily thinking through differentials. The incidence of hospital admissions for patients labelled as having gastroparesis is rapidly rising, increasing at a much faster rate than admissions for patients with nausea and vomiting, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gastritis or gastric ulcers, which are all remaining relatively static. Gastroparesis therefore represents a major healthcare burden. Gastroparesis can be idiopathic or is most frequently caused by diabetes (type 1 more than type 2) or surgical procedures that can disrupt the vagus nerve (e.g. Billroth gastrectomy, oesophagectomy, gastric bypass surgery and fundoplication). In this article, I describe the mistakes most frequently made in patients who have a suspected diagnosis of gastroparesis. I base my discussion on the available evidence as well as clinical experience in the field. 

Barrett’s oesophagus is a premalignant condition of the distal oesophagus predisposing to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Given the potential for malignant progression and the poor prognosis of eosophageal adenocarcinoma when diagnosed at a symptomatic stage, patients with known Barrett oesophagus undergo regular endoscopic surveillance to detect neoplastic progression at an early and preferably endoscopically, treatable stage. Endoscopic management of early Barrett oesophagus neoplasia consists of a combination of endoscopic imaging, endoscopic resection and endoscopic ablation. Below we discuss a number of mistakes that are frequently made when managing Barrett oesophagus neoplasia and how to avoid them. Much of this discussion draws on existing guidelines (for background reading, check the ESGE Barrett oesophagus guideline), but in many instances the underlying evidence (even in the guideline) is missing and therefore many of our practically driven recommendations are based on common sense and our experience in this field.

Chronic diarrhoea, lasting more than 3 or 4 weeks, is a common condition with a wide variety of different possible causes. Estimates suggest 5% of the population have experienced chronic diarrhoea and sought medical advice about it. All gastroenterologists see many patients whose principal complaint is frequent, loose stools, and will be aware of investigations that are needed to diagnose serious conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or colorectal cancer (CRC). Most people who present with chronic diarrhoea will not have these conditions and, if less common disorders are not considered, may be given a diagnosis of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) or perhaps functional diarrhoea. Many different treatments are used for IBS-D and often benefit only a small proportion of patients, leaving many with unmet needs, seeking further investigation, advice and treatment.