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Summary Background Guidelines recommend against aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in individuals with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). It is unknown how often patients on primary prevention aspirin hospitalised with GIB have aspirin discontinued at discharge. Aims To determine the rate of aspirin deprescription and explore long‐term outcomes in patients taking aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events. Methods We evaluated all patients hospitalised at Yale‐New Haven Hospital between January 2014 and October 2021 with GIB who were on aspirin for primary prevention. Our primary endpoint was the frequency of aspirin deprescription at discharge. Our secondary endpoints were post‐discharge hospitalisations for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or GIB. Time‐to‐event analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier curves and the log‐rank test. Results We identified 320 patients with GIB on aspirin for primary prevention: median age was 72 (interquartile range [IQR] 61–81) years and 297 (92.8%) were on aspirin 81 mg daily. Only 25 (9.0%) patients surviving their hospitalisation were deprescribed aspirin at discharge. Among 260 patients with follow‐up (median 1103 days; IQR 367–1670), MACE developed post‐discharge in 2/25 (8.0%) with aspirin deprescription versus 37/235 (15.7%) with aspirin continuation (log‐rank p = 0.28). 0/25 patients with aspirin deprescription had subsequent hospitalisation for GIB versus 17/235 (7.2%) who continued aspirin (log‐rank p = 0.13). Conclusions Aspirin for primary cardiovascular prevention was rarely deprescribed at discharge in patients hospitalised with GIB. Processes designed to ensure appropriate deprescription of aspirin are crucial to improve adherence to guidelines, thereby improving the risk–benefit ratio in patients at high risk of subsequent GIB hospitalisations with minimal increased risk of MACE.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the world's most prevalent chronic liver disease. In advanced stages, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and scoring panels Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) are useful noninvasive alternatives to liver biopsy for fibrosis staging. Our study aimed to determine how well MRE corresponds with both FIB-4 and NFS at different stages of fibrosis. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients age ≥18 with NAFLD as their only known liver disease who underwent MRE within six months of a lab draw. MRE stratified patients into fibrosis stages using kPa values. FIB-4 categorized patients as Advanced Fibrosis Excluded, Further Investigation Needed or Advanced Fibrosis Likely. NFS categorized them as F0-2, Indeterminate or F3-4. MRE fibrosis staging was compared to FIB-4 and NFS for both ruling out advanced fibrosis and identifying advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis. Results: Overall, 193 patients met inclusion criteria. Our statistical analysis included calculating positive predictive values (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs), which are the proportions of positive and negative fibrosis screening results that correspond to positive and negative MRE results respectively. NPV for FIB-4 (0.84) and NFS (0.89) in the 'rule out advanced fibrosis' category signify that 84% and 89% of respective biomarker scores correspond to MRE in early stage disease. The PPV for FIB-4 and NFS in the 'identify advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis' category signify 63% and 72% of respective biomarker scores correspond to MRE in late stage disease. Conclusions: FIB-4 and NFS scores indicating little to no fibrosis correspond extremely well with MRE, while scores suggesting advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis correspond less convincingly. MRE shows promise as an effective alternative to liver biopsy, however our study suggests FIB-4 and NFS alone may be sufficient for fibrosis staging, particularly in early stage NAFLD.

INTRODUCTION: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by chronic mucosal inflammation limited to the colon. The most common manifestation of UC is progressively worsening hematochezia that may be accompanied by extraintestinal manifestations including, peripheral arthritis, uveitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, fatty liver, venous/arterial thromboembolism, and pulmonary disease. Erythema nodosum (EN) and pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) are the most common dermatologic manifestations. Uncommonly, UC may present with unpredictable urticaria and angioedema that may be life threatening. We present a rare care of acute UC flare with migratory urticaria as the initial presenting symptom. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 25-year-old woman with UC presented with 1 week of abdominal pain, bloody stools, bilateral ankle and knee pain with non-blanching rash over her right shoulder, left armpit, and left groin. GI PCR and C. difficile assay were negative. Rheumatoid factor, double stranded DNA, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, anti-Smith antibody, anti-ribonuclear protein, and C1 esterase inhibitor were negative. The patient was started on cetirizine with resolution of the arthralgia. However, new rashes were noted under right axilla and left antecubital fossa over a two day period. Patient subsequently developed dysphagia and left sided mandibular swelling. Indirect laryngoscopy was unremarkable. She was immediately treated with IV methylprednisolone and transitioned to a slow oral steroid taper over 3 months with improvement of gastrointestinal and dermatologic symptoms. Skin biopsies revealed superficial and mid-dermal perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate consistent with urticaria. DISCUSSION: This patient presented with unpredictable migratory skin lesions involving multiple mucosal surfaces that brought concerns of possible airway involvement. The etiology was initially unclear as limited infectious and rheumatologic work up was negative, as well as negative allergen and medication exposure. Cutaneous vasculitis was considered, however biopsy showed urticaria. Patient’s symptoms significantly improved after the initiation of oral steroids. Migratory urticaria with associated angioedema can be a manifestation of an acute flare of UC that warrants evaluation by otolaryngologist and prompt initiation of steroids. Glucocorticoids may address symptoms of a pro-inflammatory state while allowing for more time to rule out other etiologies of extraintestinal manifestations of a patient’s presentations.