Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association
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Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Jul 2021
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Fecal Samples From Patients With Asymptomatic and Mild COVID-19 in Korea.
Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by fever and respiratory symptoms, some patients have no or mild symptoms. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been detected in feces of patients. We investigated gastrointestinal symptoms and shedding of virus into feces of patients with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19. ⋯ In an analysis of fecal and respiratory specimens from patients with COVID-19 in quarantine in Korea, we found that the gastrointestinal tract could be a route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 even in patients with asymptomatic or mild disease, with no gastrointestinal symptoms. The viral load of the respiratory specimens appears be related to shedding of the virus into feces in this group of patients.
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Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Jul 2021
Combination Therapy Does Not Improve Rate of Clinical or Endoscopic Remission in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Treated With Vedolizumab or Ustekinumab.
Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) often receive combination therapy with an immunomodulator and tumor necrosis factor antagonists, especially infliximab. However, the benefits of combination therapy with vedolizumab and ustekinumab are unclear. ⋯ In patients with CD or UC initiating ustekinumab or vedolizumab therapy, combination therapy with immunomodulators did not increase rates of clinical remission or response, endoscopic remission, or persistence of therapy at 1 year.