Given the overall prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome, it is important for clinicians to be able to distinguish postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome from its other subtypes.
Further research is warranted to understand the potential ways fecal microbiota transplantations may improve patients’ responses to immunotherapy.
One key factor that has developed increasing research interest is the role of a patient’s BMI, specifically those with obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2), in the development of IBD.
Reviewing a patient’s potential risk for osteoporosis should be a routine part of each visit for patients with IBD.
Due to the relatively high relapse rate and need for additional therapies, current research is being done on the use of Vedolizumab for the treatment of microscopic colitis.
The exact pathophysiology of microscopic colitis is not completely understood, though PPIs and NSAIDs are 2 medications commonly implicated for triggering the inflammatory process.
Current research indicates that short-term utilization of an LFD may help ameliorate some mild IBS symptoms associated with quiescent IBD, while further long term studies are still needed.
In patients with IBD, management of immunosuppressive regimens, as well as safety and efficacy of vaccines, has raised many questions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though patient use of cannabinoids for the treatment of IBD has increased, clinical decision making on whether to formally recommend it as treatment remains difficult.
The decision whether or not to treat patients with portal vein thrombosis is frequently encountered and remains a challenge.
