Global experts focus on disordered bowels, and viral hepatitis

Diet, drugs and hypnotherapy will all be discussed as treatments for the most common gastrointestinal disorders when gastroenterologists and hepatologists from around the globe gather in Wellington from November 11 – 13 for the New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology’s annual scientific meeting.

The prevalence and growing impact of inflammatory bowel will come under discussion. Research undertaken by leading New Zealand specialist Dr Richard Gearry from Canterbury, shows this country has one of the highest rates in the world of Crohn’s disease, which along with ulcerative colitis affects around 10,000 people in New Zealand.

Dr Gearry says the number of new patients being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease has doubled over the past 10 years.

“The peak age for onset is 15 – 35 years, but as there is no cure, these people will grow older with their Crohn’s disease. Most people living in New Zealand with the disease are between 20 and 50.”

There have been significant changes in drug management of inflammatory bowel disease with Pharmac’s recent decision to fund adalimumab (Humira), yet the problem continues to grow.

Irritable bowel syndrome, the commonest chronic gastrointestinal disorder, will also be on the agenda. Dr Anton Emmanuel, a leading UK researcher, will discuss pharmacological management of visceral hypersensitivity, and Wellington’s own Dr Pat McCarthy will present on the convincing results of treating IBS with hypnotherapy. Helpful tips on dietary management will also feature.

Coeliac disease, and the modern phenomenon of gluten intolerance will be addressed by Dr Bob Anderson, a New Zealander who now heads a major research institute in Australia. He is currently trialing a completely new treatment for coeliac disease that may obviate the need for a gluten-free diet. The coeliac disease session is particularly strong with experts drawn from Australasia and Europe to cover this topic.

Conference convenor Dr Rees Cameron is delighted with the calibre of the speakers who are taking part in the event, many of whom have never before presented in New Zealand.

“This has resulted in a programme of exceptional quality that is greatly anticipated by delegates,” Dr Cameron says.

Organisers expect the contribution of emeritus Professor Emmet Keeffe from California to be closely examined.

“Professor Keeffe is one of the elder statesmen of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the United States – he is a past President of the American Gastroenterological Association, and is editor or on the editorial board of most of the major Hepatology journals,” says Dr Cameron. “He set up the Liver Transplantation Unit at Stanford University, and is now involved in researching new drugs to treat hepatitis C. He perhaps most well-known currently for his long work in hepatitis B.”

As a major under-recognised health issue in the Maori / Polynesian populations and in Asian immigrants to New Zealand, Dr Cameron says Professor Keeffe’s expert knowledge of Hepatitis B will be of particular interest to conference delegates.

Other featured speakers at the conference include:

• Professor Chris Mulder from Amsterdam, a coeliac researcher who has also been involved in the colorectal cancer screening programme in the Netherlands who will be talking about this with Ministry of Health officials while in New Zealand.
• Professor Geoff McCaughan from Sydney, a leader in Australasian liver transplantation with a particular interest in the evolution of immunosuppressive therapy.
• Dr Kenneth Binmoeller from San Francisco, and Dr Warwick Selby from Sydney, both of whom are leaders in the advance of endoscopy from passive viewing of the gut towards minimally invasive surgery. They will be discussing the latest techniques and presenting a vision of the future to the delegates.
• There will also be two free public lectures, with an opportunity for questions and answers, on Friday November 13, focusing on Coeliac Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Day registrations are still being accepted for the conference. To register go to www.gastro2009.co.nz

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To view the full programme for the New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology and NZNO Gastroenterology Nurses Section Annual Scientific Meeting 2009 go to www.gastro2009.co.nz