Hepatology News and Research

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Hepatology is the branch of medicine that incorporates study of liver, gallbladder, biliary tree and pancreas as well as management of their disorders.

Microplastics in the liver may drive global liver disease rates

There is considerable evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics are present in the livers of humans, and wild animal populations on land and in the ocean.

23 Apr 2026

Rectal cancer deaths in older millennials are rising rapidly

Rectal cancer deaths among older millennials are accelerating, with growth in mortality far outpacing colon cancer, suggesting primary care doctors should fully investigate early symptoms in patients under age 45, according to a study to be presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026.

23 Apr 2026

Late-night eating may amplify the effects of stress on gut health

It's well known that chronic stress can disrupt bowel function, sending people running to the bathroom or making them constipated.

23 Apr 2026

Restoring gut microbiome may prevent liver cancer in mice

Restoring the gut microbiome to its youthful state may hold the key to slowing aging and preventing liver cancer, one of the fastest-growing cancers worldwide, according to a study to be presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026.

23 Apr 2026

Gut microbiome characteristics predict treatment response in IBS-D patients

In a new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the low FODMAP diet and the antibiotic rifaximin provided similar and significant relief for patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).

22 Apr 2026

Gut-liver changes drive foodborne infection severity in fatty liver disease

A research team led by the University of California, Irvine's Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health has uncovered a critical biological link explaining why individuals with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), or fatty liver disease, face significantly worse outcomes from certain foodborne infections.

15 Apr 2026

New biochip detects tiny genetic markers in 20 minutes

A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has developed a new biochip that, when paired with Artificial Intelligence (AI), can detect quickly and accurately extremely small amounts of microRNAs, which are tiny genetic markers linked to diseases such as heart disease.

15 Apr 2026

Hepatologists effectively deliver palliative care to patients with liver disease

Advanced liver disease (ALD) occurs when significant scarring causes the liver to lose function. Patients with ALD often have serious health challenges but have limited access to palliative care that could improve their quality of life.

13 Apr 2026

IBS diagnosis gaps persist across racial and gender groups in the U.S.

A national survey study led by UCLA Health and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found significant disparities in how irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is diagnosed across sex and racial groups in the U.S., with men and Black patients considerably less likely than women and white patients to receive a formal diagnosis.

9 Apr 2026

AI tool predicts Barrett’s esophagus recurrence with high accuracy

A new artificial intelligence (AI)–based tool shows promise for improving surveillance in patients treated with endoscopic eradication therapies for Barrett's esophagus (BE) related dysplasia and early esophageal adenocarcinoma.

7 Apr 2026

Fecal microbiota transplant can improve survival in severe C. difficile infection

A new study from the University of Minnesota Medical School demonstrated that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can rapidly reverse systemic inflammation and improve survival in patients with fulminant Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection - a life-threatening condition characterized by a sepsis-like state.

6 Apr 2026

Occasional heavy drinking poses major risk to liver health

People may assume that if they drink lightly during the week or month, heavy drinking on the occasional Friday or Saturday may not cause their liver harm.

2 Apr 2026

Gut immune responses found to trigger brain inflammation in MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurological disorder caused by malfunctioning immune responses that target the brain and spinal cord of the central nervous system (CNS).

27 Mar 2026

Molecular test shows high sensitivity in detecting bile duct cancer

When patients develop a narrowing or blockage in the bile ducts – the tubes connecting the liver, gallbladder and intestines – physicians must determine whether the cause is cancer or a benign condition.

27 Mar 2026

New algorithm enables precise subtyping of metabolic liver disease

Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a clinically heterogeneous condition with highly variable outcomes affecting more than 30% individuals globally.

26 Mar 2026

Vitamin D may help shape how the immune system responds to gut bacteria in IBD patients

Vitamin D supplementation may help shape how the immune system responds to gut bacteria in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a Mayo Clinic–led study published in Cell Reports Medicine.

26 Mar 2026

Machine learning speeds up AMP discovery for treating ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by recurrent intestinal inflammation, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

23 Mar 2026

Digital decision support tool improves outcomes in colorectal surgery

Research published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology provides robust evidence for the use of a digital visualization and decision support tool in colorectal (bowel) surgery.

23 Mar 2026

New insight into origins of rare liver tumors in children

Liver cancer in children is rare, but when it occurs the two main types are hepatoblastoma (HB) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

16 Mar 2026

Childhood stress may lead to digestive issues later in life

Early life stress may lead to digestive issues later in life, driven by changes in the gut and sympathetic nervous systems, according to a new study published in the journal Gastroenterology.

16 Mar 2026