scholarly journals Pathophysiology of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Holistic Overview

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Holtmann ◽  
Ayesha Shah ◽  
Mark Morrison

Background and Summary: Traditionally, functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), including functional dyspepsia or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are defined by more or less specific symptoms and the absence of structural or biochemical abnormalities that cause these symptoms. This concept is now considered to be outdated; if appropriate tests are applied, structural or biochemical abnormalities that explain or cause the symptoms may be found in many patients. Another feature of FGID are the highly prevalent psychiatric comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety. It is implied that mood disorders “cause” gastrointestinal symptoms. In fact, epidemiological data now provide strong evidence that in subsets of cases, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms arise first and mood disorders occur later, while in other patients the reverse appears to happen. Possible mechanisms for gut-brain dysfunction have been identified, with systemic minimal inflammation as a causal factor in at least some subjects. Other mechanisms that play a role in FGID include chronic infections, intestinal microbiota, low-grade mucosal inflammation including the increase of eosinophils, systemic immune activation, altered intestinal permeability, in diarrhea predominant IBS altered bile salt metabolism, abnormalities in the serotonin metabolism and genetic factors. All these factors might be modulated by environmental factors such as diet. Key Messages: While a number of factors can be linked to specific symptoms (e.g., pain or diarrhea), it is evident that the symptom-based categorization of patients will not allow targeted treatments that specifically address the underlying pathophysiology.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwanseok Jung ◽  
Eun-Jung Rhee ◽  
Mi Yeon Lee ◽  
Jung Ho Park ◽  
Dong Il Park ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations are common in patients with diabetes complications such as autonomic neuropathy. However, the prevalence of GI symptoms before the development of diabetes complications remains unclear.Method: We performed an interview survey of functional gastrointestinal disorders in diabetes patients who visited the endocrinology clinic of a general hospital using the ROME III criteria. The investigation consisted of various questions on functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and functional constipation including functional defecation disorder.Results: A total of 509 patients were included in this analysis. The patients were analyzed in three groups, prediabetes patients (n = 115), diabetes patients without neuropathy (n = 275), and diabetes patients with neuropathy (n = 119). The prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in prediabetes patients, diabetes patients without neuropathy, and diabetes patients with neuropathy was estimated at 16.52%, 27.27%, and 23.53% for functional dyspepsia; 8.7%, 11.68%, and 16.81% for irritable bowel syndrome; and 8.85%, 11.85%, and 15.25% for functional constipation. In the subgroup analysis, postprandial distress syndrome symptoms such as postprandial fullness and early satiation were more prevalent than epigastric pain symptoms. In the constipation group, pelvic outlet obstruction symptoms such as the sensation of anorectal obstruction or blockage and manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation were more frequently observed than slow transit constipation symptomsConclusions: The prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders increased with diabetes severity. Diabetes-related GI symptoms appeared long before the diabetes complications


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Huang ◽  
Serene Yaling Tan ◽  
Panam Parikh ◽  
Vanitha Buthmanaban ◽  
Shaman Rajindrajith ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children, particularly from Asia, is largely unknown. There are not many studies done in Asia especially using the Rome IV criteria. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of FGIDs in infants and young children in a representative sample in China. Methods A prospective, cross-sectional, community-based survey was conducted among healthy infants and young children between the ages of 0–4 years in Jinhua and Shanghai, China. A total of 2604 subjects (1300 subjects from Jinhua and 1304 subjects from Shanghai) completed a validated questionnaire on pediatric gastrointestinal symptoms. FGIDs in infants and young children were diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria. Results According to the Rome IV criteria, the prevalence of having a FGID in Chinese infants and young children is 27.3%. Infant regurgitation (33.9%) was the most common FGID among the 0–6 months old while functional constipation (7.0%) was the most common among the 1–4 years old. Risk factor analysis revealed that prevalence of infantile colic was higher with better maternal education and low birth weight. Prevalence of infantile regurgitation was significantly greater in males, living in a rural area, being exclusively breast fed at least up to 4 months and starting formula feeds within the first month. The risk of functional constipation was lower for infants who were delivered vaginally. Conclusions Infantile regurgitation was the most common FGID in Chinese infants while functional constipation was most prevalent among young Chinese children. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Registry Identifier: NL6973/NTR7161.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402199283
Author(s):  
Jing Wang ◽  
Ping He ◽  
Tianwei Deng ◽  
Xiaoming Xu ◽  
Duowu Zou ◽  
...  

Aims: To investigate the differences in disrupted rhythms between healthy people and patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and their associations with mood disorders during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: The rhythm scales were composed of subscales 1 and 2 for the assessment of life-work and entertainment rhythms, respectively; Zung’s Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to assess mood disorders. Results: A total of 671 patients with FGIDs and 4373 healthy people successfully participated. The scores of subscales 1 and 2 for patients with FGIDs were significantly higher than those for healthy people ( p < .005). The SAS and SDS scores, their prevalence rates were significantly higher than those for the healthy group (all p < .001). Health status, current occupation, life-work rhythm, SDS, and SAS were independent related factors of FGIDs. The score of life-work-entertainment rhythm was significantly positively correlated with SDS and SAS (both p < .001). Conclusion: Disrupted rhythms in patients with FGIDs under the COVID-19 pandemic were more frequently and significantly positively associated with mood disorders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloé Melchior ◽  
Charlotte Desprez ◽  
Fabien Wuestenberghs ◽  
Anne-Marie Leroi ◽  
Antoine Lemaire ◽  
...  

Objective: We aimed to determine the burden of opioid consumption in a cohort of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.Methods: All patients diagnosed with functional gastrointestinal disorders and referred to our university hospital were evaluated from 2013 to the beginning of 2019. Irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia diagnoses were determined according to Rome criteria and severity according to irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system. Vomiting was quantified using a 5-point Likert scale, and constipation severity was measured using the Knowles-Eccersley-Scott-Symptom questionnaires. Quality of life was quantified by the GastroIntestinal Quality of Life Index. Patients were categorized as being treated on a chronic basis with either tramadol, step II opioids, step III opioids or as being opioid-free.Results: 2933 consecutive patients were included. In our cohort, 12.5% had only irritable bowel syndrome, 39.3% had only functional dyspepsia, 24.9% had a combination of both, and 23.4% had other functional gastrointestinal disorders. Among them, the consumption of tramadol, step II (tramadol excluded) and step III opioids was 1.8, 1.3 and 0.3 % respectively in 2013 and 4.3, 3.4 and 1.9% in 2018 (p &lt; 0.03). Opioid consumption was associated with increased vomiting (p = 0.0168), constipation (p &lt; 0.0001), symptom severity (p &lt; 0.001), more altered quality of life (p &lt; 0.0001) and higher depression score (p = 0.0045).Conclusion: In functional gastrointestinal disorders, opioid consumption has increased in the last years and is associated with more GI symptoms (vomiting, constipation and GI severity), higher depression and more altered quality of life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 175628481985379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Tuppin ◽  
Sébastien Rivière ◽  
David Deutsch ◽  
Christelle Gastaldi-Menager ◽  
Jean-Marc Sabaté

Background: Gastrointestinal therapeutic drugs (GTDs) are extensively prescribed. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of GTD use in a large population: the French general health scheme beneficiaries (87% of the 66 million inhabitants) in 2016. Methods: The national health data system was used to identify individual characteristics, diseases and GTD classes reimbursed, together with the costs, using anatomical therapeutic chemical class. Results: Among the 57.5 million individuals included, 45% received at least one reimbursement among the 130 million prescriptions reimbursed (90% prescribed by a general practitioner): proton-pump inhibitors (PPI; A02BC: 24%), drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders (A03: 20%), drugs for constipation (A06: 10%), antidiarrheals, intestinal anti-inflammatory/anti-infective agents (A07: 10%), antiemetics and antinauseants (A04: 7%), other drugs for acid-related disorders (A02X: 6%), other drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (A02BX: 4.5%), antacids (A02A: 1.5%). The overall cost of reimbursed GTDs was €707 million and the mean cost per user was €28. Marked variations were observed according to age, sex, and disease. The rates of at least one reimbursement among infants were A07: 28%, A03: 17%, A02BX: 9%, A02X: 7%, A02BC: 6% and A06: 5%. Women more frequently received a reimbursement than men for each GTD class. Reimbursement rates also varied according to health status (end-stage renal disease A02BC: 66%, pregnancy A03: 53%, A04: 11%), treatments (people with at least six reimbursements for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 2016 A02BC: 62%). Chronic GTD use (>10 reimbursements/year) was observed in 19% of people with at least one A02BC reimbursement, A02BX: 11%, A03: 7%, A04: 2%, A06: 17% and A07: 3%. Conclusions: This study demonstrates extensive and chronic use of GTD in France, raising the question of their relevance according to current guidelines. They must be disseminated to general practitioners, who are the main prescribers of these drugs.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2891
Author(s):  
Jarosław Kwiecień ◽  
Weronika Hajzler ◽  
Klaudia Kosek ◽  
Sylwia Balcerowicz ◽  
Dominika Grzanka ◽  
...  

Fructose malabsorption is regarded as one of the most common types of sugar intolerance. However, the correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms and positive results in fructose hydrogen breath tests (HBTs) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical importance of positive fructose HBT by correlating the HBT results with clinical features in children with various gastrointestinal symptoms. Clinical features and fructose HBT results were obtained from 323 consecutive children (2–18 years old, mean 10.7 ± 4.3 years) that were referred to the Tertiary Paediatric Gastroenterology Centre and diagnosed as having functional gastrointestinal disorders. A total of 114 out of 323 children (35.3%) had positive HBT results, of which 61 patients were females (53.5%) and 53 were males (46.5%). Children with positive HBT were significantly younger than children with negative HBT (9.0 vs. 11.6 years old; p < 0.001). The most frequent symptom among children with fructose malabsorption was recurrent abdominal pain (89.5%). Other important symptoms were diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and flatulence. However, no correlation between positive fructose HBT results and any of the reported symptoms or general clinical features was found. In conclusion, positive fructose HBT in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders can be attributed to their younger age but not to some peculiar clinical feature of the disease.


1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita D Stuart ◽  
H Gertie Pretorius ◽  
Lynette Van der Merwe

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders are defined as chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms characterized by abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhoea (Tally, 1994; University of North Carolina, 1998). These disorders are of concern because of their high incidence, associated morbidity, expense and the impact of these disorders on people's quality of life. Drossman (1993, in University of North Carolina (UNC), 1998) found that of 5 400 U.S. households, 69% of people met the criteria for at least one of the functional gastrointestinal disorders which represents a 59% increase in the incidence of functional gastrointestinal disorders since 1983 (Drossman, in UNC, 1998; Drossman, 1983). In particular, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) sufferers account for 2,4 - 3,5 million visits to doctors annually. Furthermore, IBS sufferers spend $40 million annually on treatment for their condition. They also tend to have 3 to 4 times more disability days than other workers, which illustrates the debilitating effect of this disorder (Drossman, in UNC, 1998). It is therefore necessary that the etiology of IBS be researched, as well as the course and management of this debilitating disease. The studies presented in this series aimed to improve the understanding of the multiple agents that influence the development and course of IBS.


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