Original ResearchFull Report: Clinical—Alimentary TractRome III Functional Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation Are Similar Disorders Within a Spectrum of Sensitization, Regulated by Serotonin
Section snippets
Subjects
This study was carried out on 24 female IBS-C patients (aged 19−50 years), 12 female FC patients (aged 25−46 years), and 24 female HVs (aged 20−49 years). Patients were recruited from the Outpatients Department of the University Hospitals of South Manchester (tertiary patients excluded), local general practices, advertisement in regional newspapers, and an existing departmental volunteer pool of patients, and all satisfied the Rome III criteria for either IBS-C or FC.1 No subjects had
Results
Table 1 shows the demographic and 7-day diary data for FC and IBS-C patients, and HVs. One IBS-C patient and one HV did not complete the study for personal reasons and one FC patient emigrated. Both FC and IBS-C patients reported more abdominal symptoms and bowel movement−associated symptoms than HVs (P < .001), with IBS-C patients reporting more abdominal pain and bloating than FC patients (P < .04). In addition, 45% (5 of 11) of FC patients and 69% (16 of 23) of IBS-C patients reported
Discussion
This is the first study to show that increased PDP 5-HT concentration associates with reduced visceral sensitivity and stool frequency in patients with constipation. Our data confirm that there is much symptom and physiological overlap between patients with IBS-C and FC, both in terms of abdominal and bowel movement−associated symptoms, and gastrointestinal transit, with the only difference being that IBS-C patients have an increase in abdominal symptoms with meal ingestion and tend to reside
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Professor Shaheen Hamdy for acting as on-site day-to-day supervisor to Dr Shekhar, following Professor Houghton's relocation to the Mayo Clinic.
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This article has an accompanying continuing medical education activity on page e13. Learning Objective: Upon completion of these questions, successful learners will be able to discuss the symptoms and pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and functional constipation.
Conflicts of interest The authors disclose no conflicts.
Funding Supported by custodial research funds held by University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust.