Introduction

The introduction and broad use of new immunosuppressive agents, including biologic agents and JAK inhibitors, have revolutionised treatment of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] in recent decades. With such immunosuppression, the potential for opportunistic infection is a key safety concern. Opportunistic infections pose particular problems for the clinician; they are potentially serious, often difficult to recognise, associated with appreciable morbidity or mortality, and are challenging to treat effectively. The first guideline on opportunistic infections was published in 2009 followed by an update in 2014. New evidence in this field and in vaccination strategies for immunosuppressed IBD patients led the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization [ECCO] to update the previous consensus on opportunistic infections in IBD. The current document is focused on viral, mycobacterial, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections and on vaccination strategies for immunosuppressed IBD patients. The target audience includes IBD specialists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, and paediatricians.

Summary

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is defined as steatotic liver disease (SLD) in the presence of one or more cardiometabolic risk factor(s) and the absence of harmful alcohol intake. The spectrum of MASLD includes steatosis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, previously NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis and MASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This joint EASL-EASD-EASO guideline provides an update on definitions, prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment for MASLD. Case-finding strategies for MASLD with liver fibrosis, using non-invasive tests, should be applied in individuals with cardiometabolic risk factors, abnormal liver enzymes, and/or radiological signs of hepatic steatosis, particularly in the presence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) or obesity with additional metabolic risk factor(s). A stepwise approach using blood-based scores (such as FIB-4) and, sequentially, imaging techniques (such as transient elastography) is suitable to rule-out/in advanced fibrosis, which is predictive of liver-related outcomes. In adults with MASLD, lifestyle modification – including weight loss, dietary changes, physical exercise and discouraging alcohol consumption – as well as optimal management of comorbidities – including use of incretin-based therapies (e.g. semaglutide, tirzepatide) for T2D or obesity, if indicated – is advised. Bariatric surgery is also an option in individuals with MASLD and obesity. If locally approved and dependent on the label, adults with non-cirrhotic MASH and significant liver fibrosis (stage ≥2) should be considered for a MASH-targeted treatment with resmetirom, which demonstrated histological effectiveness on steatohepatitis and fibrosis with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. No MASH-targeted pharmacotherapy can currently be recommended for the cirrhotic stage. Management of MASH-related cirrhosis includes adaptations of metabolic drugs, nutritional counselling, surveillance for portal hypertension and HCC, as well as liver transplantation in decompensated cirrhosis.

Source file

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2024.04.031

ABSTRACT