Annual Meeting 2025 - Highlights from Helsinki with Elena Cernat

Hot off the press – fresh from Helsinki – your ESPGHAN podcast team has interviewed Dr. Elena Cernat, a paediatric gastroenterologist originally from Romania, via Spain, and now working in Leeds. Dr. Cernat has handpicked six interesting abstracts from this year’s ESPGHAN annual meeting to discuss with us (she found many more, of course, but podcast time constraints – you’ll understand). She explains why she chose these particular abstracts… though it’s entirely possible your assessments may differ. Judge for yourselves! Abstracts (in order of discussion): 1. A cfCHIP-SEQ Liquid Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Hepatitis in Children Publication: H-OP024 | Topic: AS02. Hepatology This study explores the use of cfChIP-seq, a liquid biopsy technique, to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in children, offering a non-invasive alternative to liver biopsy. Researchers found distinct immune-related transcriptional activity in AIH patients, identifying a gene expression signature (“AIH score”) that distinguishes AIH from other liver diseases with 90% accuracy. 2. Gut Microbiota Response to Ileal Bile Acid Inhibitor Therapy in Children with Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Publication: H-OP012 | Topic: AS02. Hepatology Researchers evaluated how IBAT inhibitors and liver transplantation (LT) impact gut microbiota in PFIC patients. While LT restored microbiota function closer to normal, IBAT inhibitors did not significantly improve bile acid metabolism or microbiota composition—although changes were associated with clinical response in some cases. 3. A Set of Serum Proteomic Biomarkers Differentiates Celiac Children from Age and HLA-Matched Controls Publication: G-OP010 | Topic: AS01. Gastroenterology This study identified a panel of eight inflammation-related serum proteins that can differentiate children with celiac disease from HLA-matched healthy controls with over 90% accuracy. This holds promise for reducing the need for intestinal biopsy in diagnosis. 4. Long-Term Maintenance Treatment with Vedolizumab in Pediatric IBD: A Three-Year Follow-Up of the Prospective Multicenter VEDOKIDS Study Publication: G-OP070 | Topic: AS01. Gastroenterology A three-year prospective study found that vedolizumab is a safe and effective long-term maintenance therapy, particularly in pediatric UC (ulcerative colitis) patients. Early clinical remission (by week 6) was the best predictor of sustained remission over three years. 5. Mechanisms of Fetal Regulatory B Cell Induction by 2’-Fucosyllactose Supplementation During Pregnancy for Allergy Prevention Publication: N-OP013 | Topic: AS03. Nutrition This experimental study in mice suggests that prenatal supplementation with 2'-fucosyllactose (2’FL) enhances fetal immune tolerance by increasing B10 regulatory cells via maternal microchimerism. These findings may shed light on allergy prevention mechanisms starting in utero. 6. D-Lactate in Pediatric Patients on Enteral and Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition Publication: N-OP033 | Topic: AS03. Nutrition D-lactate levels were compared across pediatric patients receiving long-term parenteral nutrition, those post-intestinal adaptation, and healthy controls. Elevated D-lactate was linked to specific clinical settings like SBS, and genetic analysis was used to investigate possible metabolic contributors. Elena´s song she brought from Finnland : Loituma - Ievan Polkka https://open.spotify.com/track/7aJMmhcw04NrO6whqwL23G?si=cc082143da8546bc ESPGHAN favourite Songs can be found on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YIHKjxITLEm9XNyHyypTo