This blog entry has abbreviated/summarized this presentation. Though not intentional, some important material is likely to have been omitted; in addition, transcription errors are possible as well.

Improvement in GGT Predicts Event-free Survival in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Regardless of Ursodeoxycholic Acic Treatment. 

Mark Deneau et al. (Grand Watkins Prize).

Key points:

• PSC is difficult to study due to its rarity and due to its slow progression; thus surrogate biomarkers are needed.
• Alkaline phosphatase is not a good biomarker in children
• GGT level at one year after diagnosis was predictive of prognosis
• Ursodeoxycholic acid does not appear to be effective

Optimizing Nutrition in Intestinal Failure

Justine Turner, University of Alberta

Key points:

• Human milk is an ideal “formula” for infants, including those with intestinal failure
• Oral feedings are important
• Combination of bolus feeds and continuous feeds is reasonable
• SMOFlipid allows higher lipid dose administration without hepatoxicity; this may improve cognitive outcomes
• Amino acid based formulas have higher osmolality which can contribute to diarrhea

Patients with >50% of small bowel and >50% of colon were most likely to achieve enteral autonomy (GIFT registry)