IBS Flashcards
Whats the pathophysiology of IBS?
No structural aetiology so its known as a functional bowel disease
Possible mechanisms include: visceral hypersensitivity, abnormal GI immune function, changes in gut microbiome, abnormal autonomic activity, abnormal central pain processing of afferent gut signals, abnormal gastrointestinal motility
Whats the incidence of IBS?
10-20% of all adolescents and adults in the west
Which gender does IBS affect more?
Women
What are the symptoms of IBS?
Abdominal discomfort or pain - often improves with defecation
Changes in bowel habit
Bloating
Disordered defecation
Abdominal tenderness on examination
Mucoid stools
Urgency to defecate
Straining
Tenesmus
Referred pain to LLQ
How is IBS diagnosed in primary care?
exclusion of structural or metabolic abnormalities
if abdominal pain/discomfort has been present for at least 6 months and:
Is either…relieved by defecation or associated with altered bowel frequency/stool form
and is accompanied by at least two of the following symptoms:
1. Altered stool passage (straining, urgency, incomplete evacuation).
2. Abdominal bloating, distension, tension or hardness.
3. Made worse by eating.
4. Passage of mucus.
What are the subtypes of IBS?
IBS with constipation (IBS-C)
IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D)
Mixed IBS (IBS-M)
Unsubtyped IBS
What causes the abdominal pain in IBS?
Visceral hypersensitivity -> sensory nerve endings a have an abnormally strong response to stimuli e.g. stretching after a meal
What causes the abdominal bowel motility in IBS?
Eating foods that have short-chain carbohydrates e.g. lactose and fructose -> aren’t absorbed and act as solutes that draw water across into the lumen -> smooth muscles lining intestines to spasm -> diarrhoea
The unabsorbed short chain carbohydrates are metabolised by GI bacterial flora which produces gas -> causing more bloating, spasm and pain
What are the risk factors for IBS?
Infectious diarrhoea - precedes onset of IBS symptoms in 7-30% of cases
Genetics - person with a first degree relative with IBS had an odds ratio of 2.75 of developing it. (Maybe to do with shared childhood experiences/environmental exposures)
GI inflammation
Dietary factors
Stress
Female sex
Pre-existing adverse life events
High hypochondriacal anxiety
Neurotic scores
Drugs e.g. antibiotics
What disorders does IBS coexist with?
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome
Sexual dysfunction
Temperomandubular joint dysfunction
What factors can trigger the onset of IBS?
Affective disorder
Psychological stress and trauma
GI infection
Antibiotic therapy
Abuse - sexual physical or verbal
Pelvic surgery
EDs
What is IBS-C?
IBS with constipation
Hardy lympy stools >25% and loss or watery stools <25%
What is IBS-D?
Loose or watery stools >25% and hard/lumpy stools <25% of bowel movements
What is IBS-M?
Mixed IBS
Hard or lumpy stools >25% and loose or water stools >25% of bowel movements
What is unsubtyped IBS?
When there is insufficient abnormality of stool consistency to meet criteria for IBS-C,D,M
Whats the most common subtype of IBS?
Diarrhoea predominant
Whats the criteria used to subtype IBS?
Rome IV criteria
What proportion of those with IBS report that food triggers their symptoms?
Up to 90%
What age does IBS most commonly affect?
Crohns 15-25
UC 15-25 and 55-65
Whats the prognosis of IBS?
Symptoms may fluctuate over years
Up to 20% will have worsening IBS sympotms
Up to 50% will have symptoms which remain unchanged
Up to 40% will have improvement of symptoms
Symptoms resolve spontaneously in about 50% of affected people within 6–8 years