Jump to content

User:Gastro guy/ibs notes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Medical conditions that accompany IBS

[edit]

Researchers have identified several medical conditions, or comorbidities, which appear with greater frequency in patients diagnosed with IBS.

Headache, Fibromyalgia, and Depression:A study of 97,593 individuals with IBS identified comorbidities as headache, fibromyalgia, and depression. [1] Fibromyalgia has also been identified in other studies as a co-morbidity of IBS. [2][3]
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Some researchers have suggested that IBS is a type of low-grade inflammatory bowel disease.[4] Researchers have suggested that IBS and IBD are interrelated diseases,[5] noting that patients with IBD experience IBS-like symptoms when their IBD is in remission. [6] [7] A 3-year study found that patients diagnosed with IBS were 16.3 times more likely to develop IBD during the study period. [8] Serum markers associated with inflammation have also been found in patients with IBS (see Causes).
Endometriosis: One study has reported a statistically significant link between migraine headaches, IBS, and endometriosis. [9]

Causes of IBS

[edit]

IBS as a psychosomatic illness (1950- ~2000)

[edit]

There was a greater improvement in the psychotherapy groups for patients with IBS after three months and for both IBS and PUD (peptic ulcer disease) patients after 15 months. The difference had become more pronounced after 15 months, with the patients given psychotherapy showing further improvement, and the patients who had received medical treatment only showing some deterioration.

— by J Svedlund, A psychosomatic approach to treatment in the irritable bowel syndrome and peptic ulcer disease with aspects of the design of clinical trials., 1985.


Most peptic ulcers are now treated with 1-2 weeks of antibiotic therapy, since it has been discovered that they are caused by a combination of a genetic trait in the patient and infection with the bacteria H. Pylori.[10]

One of the first references to the concept of an "Irritable Bowel" appeared in the Rocky Mountain Medical Journal in 1950. [11] The term was used to categorize patients who developed symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, but where no well-recognized infective cause can could be found. Early theories suggested that the Irritable Bowel was caused by a somatic, or mental disorder. One paper from the 1980's investigated "learned illness behavior" in patients with IBS and peptic ulcers. [12] Another study suggested that both IBS and peptic ulcer patients would benefit from 15 months of psychotherapy [13].

Additional publications suggesting the role of brain-gut "axis" appeared in the 1990's. [14] A 1997 study published in Gut magazine described the "derailing of the brain-gut axis" in association with IBS. [15]

Discovery of inflammation and secretory changes (1997- )

[edit]

In the late 1990's and later, research publications began identifying specific biochemical changes present in tissue biopsies and serum samples from IBS patients, suggesting that the symptoms of IBS may have an organic rather than psychosomatic cause. These studies identified cytokines and secretory products in tissues taken from IBS patients. Cytokines are chemicals produced by the body to perform communication between cells. The cytokines identified in IBS patients are inflammatory cytokines which are associated with the body's immune response.

  • A 1997 study of blood samples from IBS patients published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found elevated levels antibodies to the protozoan Blastocystis. [16]
  • A 2001 study published in Digestion from the International Medical University (Japan) showed that intestinal biopsies from patients with constipation predominant IBS secreted higher levels of serotonin in-vitro. [17] Serotonin controls smooth muscle contraction in the body, and many other functions. Serotonin is secreted by some gastrointestinal protozoa, causing diarrhea and elevated serum serotonin levels in humans. [18][19][20]
  • A 2003 study of rectal biopsy tissue from IBS patients performed at the National University, Singapore and published in Gut magazine showed increased levels of cellular structures involved in the production of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1 Beta. [21]
  • A 2007 study of blood samples from IBS patients performed at the University of Adelaide and published in Gastroenterology identified elevated levels of cytokines TNF-Alpha, IL-1, and IL-6 in patients with IBS.[22]
  • A 2007 study of intestinal biopsies from IBS patients performed at the University of Calgary and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation showed increased levels of protease secretion. Proteases are chemicals which split proteins into smaller molecules. The human body uses them to digest proteins, and they are also used by infectious diseases to combat the host's immune system. [23]

Identification of active infections (2003- )

[edit]

Some researchers believe IBS may be caused by an active infection which has not yet been discovered. Many clinically significant gastrointestinal pathogens have been discovered in the last 50 years, and medical recognition has taken decades in some cases (see History of emerging infectious diseases). Most recently, a study has found that the antibiotic Rifaximin provides sustained relief for IBS patients. [24]

Clearly this study highlights a new concept in the potential pathogenesis of IBS. An infectious cause may offer a tremendous opportunity to manage an otherwise frustrating disease -- both for patients and their treating physician.

— by Dr. David A. Johnson, President of the American College of Gastroenterology , commenting on results from study of Rifaximin in treatment of IBS[25]

Some physicians retain the view that no infectious cause exists, and suggest that IBS patients have too much bacteria in their intestines and the antibiotics reduce the amount of bacteria. This theory is known as SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth).[26]


Protozoal Infections

[edit]

Protozoa are single-celled organisms which can cause symptoms equivalent to IBS. [27] Several researchers have focused on unrecognized protozoal infection as a cause of IBS because of this, and because some protozoal infections occur at a statistically significant rate in IBS patients.[28] [29] The two protozoa investigated have a high prevalence in industrialized countries, infect the bowel, but are recently emerged pathogens so little is known about them.

Blastocystis is a single-celled organism which has been reported to produce symptoms of abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea in patients, along with headaches and depression. [30] Researchers have noted that existing methods may fail to diagnose infection properly [31], and it may not respond to treatment with common antiprotozoals. [32][33][34][35] The following reports have linked Blastocystis infection to IBS:

  • A study of IBS patients in the Middle East found 43% were infected with Blastocystis vs. 7% of healthy controls. [28].
  • An additional study of IBS patients in the Middle East showed a "significantly increased" immune reaction in IBS patients to Blastocystis, even when the organism could not be identified in stool samples.[16]
  • A European study compared Blastocystis infection rates in IBS patients to those of healthy controls and found a statistically significant infection rate in IBS patients. [29]
  • Early reports from the US physicians in the 1980's suggested the presence of the organism was not relevant to the diagnostic process, and patients infected with Blastocystis could be diagnosed with IBS. [34]
File:Wiki ibs cause figures.png
Prevalence of protozoal infections in industrialized countries (United States and Canada) in 21st century. [36] [37]

Since the 1980's, researchers have found multiple types of Blastocystis infect humans, and some types cause disease while others do not, possibly explaining conflicting reports of physicians.[38] Three studies of experimental infection of animals with Blastocystis report fulfilling Koch's Postulates, a widely accepted criteria for establishing the ability of an organism to cause disease. [39][40][41]

Dientamoeba fragilis is a single-celled organism which produces abdominal pain and diarrhea. Studies have reported a high incidence of infection in developed countries, and symptoms of patients resolve following antibiotic treatment. [36][42] One study reported on a large group of patients with IBS-like symptoms who were found to be infected with Dientamoeba fragilis, and experienced resolution of symptoms following treatment. [43] Researchers have noted that methods used clinically may reliably detect infection with Dientamoeba fragilis. [42]


  1. ^ Cole JA, Rothman KJ, Cabral HJ, Zhang Y, Farraye FA (2006). "Migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression among people with IBS: a prevalence study". BMC gastroenterology. 6: 26. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-6-26. PMID 17007634.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  2. ^ Kurland JE, Coyle WJ, Winkler A, Zable E (2006). "Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome and depression in fibromyalgia". Dig. Dis. Sci. 51 (3): 454–60. doi:10.1007/s10620-006-3154-7. PMID 16614951.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Frissora CL, Koch KL (2005). "Symptom overlap and comorbidity of irritable bowel syndrome with other conditions". Current gastroenterology reports. 7 (4): 264–71. PMID 16042909.
  4. ^ Bercik P, Verdu EF, Collins SM (2005). "Is irritable bowel syndrome a low-grade inflammatory bowel disease?". Gastroenterol. Clin. North Am. 34 (2): 235–45, vi–vii. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2005.02.007. PMID 15862932.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Quigley EM (2005). "Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease: interrelated diseases?". Chinese journal of digestive diseases. 6 (3): 122–32. doi:10.1111/j.1443-9573.2005.00202.x. PMID 16045602.
  6. ^ Simrén M, Axelsson J, Gillberg R, Abrahamsson H, Svedlund J, Björnsson ES (2002). "Quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease in remission: the impact of IBS-like symptoms and associated psychological factors". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 97 (2): 389–96. PMID 11866278.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Minderhoud IM, Oldenburg B, Wismeijer JA, van Berge Henegouwen GP, Smout AJ (2004). "IBS-like symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission; relationships with quality of life and coping behavior". Dig. Dis. Sci. 49 (3): 469–74. PMID 15139501.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ García Rodríguez LA, Ruigómez A, Wallander MA, Johansson S, Olbe L (2000). "Detection of colorectal tumor and inflammatory bowel disease during follow-up of patients with initial diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome". Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 35 (3): 306–11. PMID 10766326.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Tietjen GE, Bushnell CD, Herial NA, Utley C, White L, Hafeez F (2007). "Endometriosis is associated with prevalence of comorbid conditions in migraine". Headache. 47 (7): 1069–78. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2007.00784.x. PMID 17635599.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ El-Omar EM, Carrington M, Chow WH; et al. (2000). "Interleukin-1 polymorphisms associated with increased risk of gastric cancer". Nature. 404 (6776): 398–402. doi:10.1038/35006081. PMID 10746728. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ BROWN PW (1950). "The irritable bowel syndrome". Rocky Mountain medical journal. 47 (5): 343–6. PMID 15418074.
  12. ^ Whitehead WE, Winget C, Fedoravicius AS, Wooley S, Blackwell B (1982). "Learned illness behavior in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and peptic ulcer". Dig. Dis. Sci. 27 (3): 202–8. PMID 7075418.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Svedlund J, Sjödin I (1985). "A psychosomatic approach to treatment in the irritable bowel syndrome and peptic ulcer disease with aspects of the design of clinical trials". Scand. J. Gastroenterol. Suppl. 109: 147–51. PMID 3895386.
  14. ^ Fukudo S, Nomura T, Muranaka M, Taguchi F (1993). "Brain-gut response to stress and cholinergic stimulation in irritable bowel syndrome. A preliminary study". J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 17 (2): 133–41. PMID 8031340.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Orr WC, Crowell MD, Lin B, Harnish MJ, Chen JD (1997). "Sleep and gastric function in irritable bowel syndrome: derailing the brain-gut axis". Gut. 41 (3): 390–3. PMID 9378397.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ a b Hussain R, Jaferi W, Zuberi S; et al. (1997). "Significantly increased IgG2 subclass antibody levels to Blastocystis hominis in patients with irritable bowel syndrome". Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 56 (3): 301–6. PMID 9129532. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Miwa J, Echizen H, Matsueda K, Umeda N (2001). "Patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have elevated serotonin concentrations in colonic mucosa as compared with diarrhea-predominant patients and subjects with normal bowel habits". Digestion. 63 (3): 188–94. PMID 11351146.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ McGowan K, Kane A, Asarkof N; et al. (1983). "Entamoeba histolytica causes intestinal secretion: role of serotonin". Science. 221 (4612): 762–4. PMID 6308760. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ McGowan K, Guerina V, Wicks J, Donowitz M (1985). "Secretory hormones of Entamoeba histolytica". Ciba Found. Symp. 112: 139–54. PMID 2861068.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Banu, Naheed; et al. (2005). "Neurohumoral alterations and their role in amoebiasis" (PDF). Indian J. Clin Biochem. 20 (2): 142–5. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  21. ^ Gwee KA, Collins SM, Read NW; et al. (2003). "Increased rectal mucosal expression of interleukin 1beta in recently acquired post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome". Gut. 52 (4): 523–6. PMID 12631663. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Liebregts T, Adam B, Bredack C; et al. (2007). "Immune activation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome". Gastroenterology. 132 (3): 913–20. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2007.01.046. PMID 17383420. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Cenac N, Andrews CN, Holzhausen M; et al. (2007). "Role for protease activity in visceral pain in irritable bowel syndrome". J. Clin. Invest. 117 (3): 636–47. doi:10.1172/JCI29255. PMID 17304351. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Pimentel M, Park S, Mirocha J, Kane SV, Kong Y (2006). "The effect of a nonabsorbed oral antibiotic (rifaximin) on the symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized trial". Ann. Intern. Med. 145 (8): 557–63. PMID 17043337.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Johnson, David. (2006). "Viewpoints: Efficacy of Rifaximin vs Placebo in Reducing Symptoms in Adults With IBS". Medscape Gastroenterology. 8 (2).
  26. ^ Posserud I, Stotzer PO, Björnsson ES, Abrahamsson H, Simrén M (2007). "Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with irritable bowel syndrome". Gut. 56 (6): 802–8. doi:10.1136/gut.2006.108712. PMID 17148502.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Stark D, van Hal S, Marriott D, Ellis J, Harkness J (2007). "Irritable bowel syndrome: a review on the role of intestinal protozoa and the importance of their detection and diagnosis". Int. J. Parasitol. 37 (1): 11–20. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2006.09.009. PMID 17070814.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ a b Yakoob J, Jafri W, Jafri N; et al. (2004). "Irritable bowel syndrome: in search of an etiology: role of Blastocystis hominis". Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 70 (4): 383–5. PMID 15100450. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ a b Giacometti A, Cirioni O, Fiorentini A, Fortuna M, Scalise G (1999). "Irritable bowel syndrome in patients with Blastocystis hominis infection". Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 18 (6): 436–9. PMID 10442423.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Qadri SM, al-Okaili GA, al-Dayel F (1989). "Clinical significance of Blastocystis hominis". J. Clin. Microbiol. 27 (11): 2407–9. PMID 2808664.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Stensvold R, Brillowska-Dabrowska A, Nielsen HV, Arendrup MC (2006). "Detection of Blastocystis hominis in unpreserved stool specimens by using polymerase chain reaction". J. Parasitol. 92 (5): 1081–7. PMID 17152954.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Yakoob J, Jafri W, Jafri N, Islam M, Asim Beg M (2004). "In vitro susceptibility of Blastocystis hominis isolated from patients with irritable bowel syndrome". Br. J. Biomed. Sci. 61 (2): 75–7. PMID 15250669.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ Haresh K, Suresh K, Khairul Anus A, Saminathan S (1999). "Isolate resistance of Blastocystis hominis to metronidazole". Trop. Med. Int. Health. 4 (4): 274–7. PMID 10357863.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ a b Markell EK, Udkow MP (1986). "Blastocystis hominis: pathogen or fellow traveler?". Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 35 (5): 1023–6. PMID 3766850.
  35. ^ Ok UZ, Girginkardeşler N, Balcioğlu C, Ertan P, Pirildar T, Kilimcioğlu AA (1999). "Effect of trimethoprim-sulfamethaxazole in Blastocystis hominis infection". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 94 (11): 3245–7. PMID 10566723.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ a b Lagacé-Wiens PR, VanCaeseele PG, Koschik C (2006). "Dientamoeba fragilis: an emerging role in intestinal disease". CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne. 175 (5): 468–9. doi:10.1503/cmaj.060265. PMID 16940260.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ Amin OM (2002). "Seasonal prevalence of intestinal parasites in the United States during 2000". Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 66 (6): 799–803. PMID 12224595.
  38. ^ Tan TC, Suresh KG, Thong KL, Smith HV (2006). "PCR fingerprinting of Blastocystis isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic human hosts". Parasitol. Res. 99 (4): 459–65. doi:10.1007/s00436-006-0177-0. PMID 16628457.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Moe KT, Singh M, Howe J; et al. (1997). "Experimental Blastocystis hominis infection in laboratory mice". Parasitol. Res. 83 (4): 319–25. PMID 9134552. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ Zhang HW, Li W, Yan QY, He LJ, Su YP (2006). "[Impact of blastocystis hominis infection on ultrastructure of intestinal mucosa in mice]". Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi (in Chinese). 24 (3): 187–91. PMID 17094618.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ Yao FR, Qiao JY, Zhao Y, Zhang X, Yang JH, Li XQ (2005). "[Experimental infection of mice with Blastocystis hominis]". Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi (in Chinese). 23 (6): 444–8. PMID 16566218.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ a b Stensvold CR, Arendrup MC, Mølbak K, Nielsen HV (2007). "The prevalence of Dientamoeba fragilis in patients with suspected enteroparasitic disease in a metropolitan area in Denmark". Clin. Microbiol. Infect. 13 (8): 839–42. doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01760.x. PMID 17610603.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ Borody T, Warren E, Wettstein A; et al. (2002). "Eradication of Dientamoeba fragilis can resolve IBS-like symptoms". J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 17 (Suppl, pages=A103). {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); Missing pipe in: |issue= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)