News from Digestive Disease Week

 World Trade Center First Responders Face Higher Risk of Fatty Liver Disease

               Sept. 11 responders were significantly more likely to develop liver disease than the general population, according to a retrospective study discussed at a recent presscast put on by the organizers of Digestive Disease Week.

                Digestive Disease Week 2020 was canceled, and while there will be no Virtual DDW, the organizers are nevertheless releasing the scientific data that was to be presented, consistent with the meeting's original schedule.

                The rate of toxin-associated fatty liver disease (TAFLD) was nearly 83% among 243 World Trade Center first responders who were referred to a doctor for gastrointestinal symptoms, according to abstract Mo1507. By comparison, the rate among the general population ranges from 24 to 45%.

                Between 80 and 100 million Americans have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, according to Mishal Reja, MD, resident physician at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

                “TAFLD is associated with many common toxins, such as vinyl chloride, as well industrial solvents and building demolition,” explained Reja, who presented the study.

                Among the first responders, 40% were involved with debris removal, while 30 to 40% had administrative roles, added Reja.

                The researchers expect to begin two prospective studies to confirm the findings within the next month. The studies will seek to enroll between one hundred and two hundred subjects comparing the findings in non-World Trade Center responders, Reja noted.