Diagnostic value of the Manning criteria in irritable bowel syndrome.

Because unexplained 'functional symptoms' are a major cause of referral to gastroenterologists, the efficiency of the medical history to lead to a positive diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, without resorting to the use of expensive tests, remains a key question. Whilst the six criteria of Manning et al are widely used, data on their validity in discriminating irritable bowel syndrome from healthy controls, irritable bowel syndrome from non-ulcer dyspepsia and especially among irritable bowel syndrome subgroups, are not available. To evaluate this, we studied 361 outpatients who completed a bowel disease questionnaire, which objectively measured Manning's (and other) criteria. The group included 82 patients with irritable bowel syndrome, 33 with non-ulcer dyspepsia, 101 with organic gastrointestinal disease, and 145 healthy controls. Diagnoses were based on a full and independent clinical evaluation, not on responses to the bowel disease questionnaire. Reliability was assessed by a test-retest procedure. All six of the individual Manning criteria were found to be reliable (median kappa = 0.79). Based on a logistic regression analysis of the discriminatory value of Manning's criteria, as the number of positive criteria increased, so did the predicted probability of irritable bowel syndrome. This predictive value was highest in younger patients and in females. The Manning criteria discriminated irritable bowel syndrome from organic gastrointestinal disease and from all non-irritable bowel syndrome gastrointestinal disease with a sensitivity of 58% and 42%, and a specificity of 74% and 85%, respectively. Stools that were often loose and watery provided an additional independent criterion for distinguishing irritable bowel syndrome from non-irritable bowel syndrome. Thus, symptoms can be used to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome positively, but Manning's criteria are not highly sensitive.     

Sleep and duodenal motor activity in patients with severe non-ulcer dyspepsia.

The prevalence of sleep disturbances was studied in patients with severe non-ulcer dyspepsia. It was also considered if the change in sleep pattern was associated with changes in the rhythmic fasting motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract, and if motor events correlate with the patient's symptoms. Motor activity in the duodenum was monitored over a 24 hour period under freely ambulatory conditions in 10 healthy controls and in 10 patients with severe non-ulcer dyspepsia using a transnasally placed catheter with six solid state pressure transducers connected to a digital data logging device. Symptoms and sleep disturbance were assessed by questionnaire and diary. Based on their symptoms, the patients were separated into two groups: those with dyspepsia symptoms only (non-ulcer dyspepsia; n = 5) and those with dyspepsia and additional functional symptoms thought to arise from the lower gastrointestinal tract (non-ulcer dyspepsia+irritable bowel syndrome; n = 5). When compared with either the control or the non-ulcer dyspepsia+irritable bowel syndrome group, non-ulcer dyspepsia patients had a considerably decreased number of migrating motor complexes during the nocturnal period (0.7 v 4.6), a decreased percentage of nocturnal phase I (5.2% v 78.0%), and an increased percentage of the nocturnal period in phase II (94% v 15.4%). Patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia+irritable bowel syndrome were not different from normal controls. Four of the non-ulcer dyspepsia patients and all of the non-ulcer dyspepsia+irritable bowel syndrome patients reported difficulties with sleep. Clusters of high amplitude tonic and phasic activity, not accompanied by subjective reports of discomfort were noted in several patients in both groups during the study. In eight of 10 patients, abdominal pain was reported during normal motor activity, while in one patient, pain correlated with phase III of the migrating motor complex. In contrast with previous reports in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, our findings suggest an abnormality of diurnal rhythmicity--shown in changed sleep and changed rhythmic duodenal motor activity--in patients with chronic abdominal pain thought to arise from the upper gastrointestinal tract.     

Relation among personality and symptoms in nonulcer dyspepsia and the irritable bowel syndrome

The importance of personality traits in nonulcer dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome is a controversial issue. We wished to assess the distribution of abnormal personality traits in nonulcer dyspepsia and the irritable bowel syndrome, define any relation among personality and symptoms, and determine whether personality factors discriminate among patients with functional, psychiatric, or organic gastrointestinal diseases. Patients with nonulcer dyspepsia (n = 31), irritable bowel syndrome (n = 67), organic gastrointestinal disease (n = 64), somatoform disorder (n = 36) and healthy controls (n = 128) were studied. Before diagnostic evaluation by an independent physician, all patients completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and a symptom questionnaire. Symptom scores for abdominal pain and the Manning criteria, which is considered to be diagnostic for the irritable bowel syndrome, were evaluated. Personality scales in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and organic disease were very similar. However, patients in the other groups differed from somatoform disorder on nearly all scales. In nonulcer dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and organic disease, hypochondriasis weakly correlated with pain. Subgroups of irritable bowel syndrome patients with predominant constipation and those with predominant diarrhea had similar personality traits, although hypomania was minimally increased in constipation. Patients who fulfilled the Manning criteria for irritable bowel syndrome had more psychological distress than those who did not. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory correctly classified somatoform disorder and health 81% and 75% of the time, respectively, but it classified nonulcer dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome correctly in only 32% and 34% of cases. Our results suggest that psychopathology may not be the major explanation for functional gastrointestinal disorders.     

Somatization an independent psychosocial risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome but not dyspepsia: a population-based study

BACKGROUND: A psychosocial conceptualization for irritable bowel syndrome and unexplained dyspepsia has been proposed, but remains untested. We conducted a comprehensive population-based study to determine what psychiatric and psychosocial factors, if any, are important in irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia. METHODS: Two hundred and seven participants identified from two previous Australian population surveys who also met Rome I criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (n=156) or unexplained dyspepsia (n=51) were included in the study. Consulters (n=103) were those who had had visited their general practitioner for gastrointestinal symptoms at least once in the prior 12 months. Nonconsulters had not sought medical care for gastrointestinal symptoms in the past year. Controls (n=100) did not report having any abdominal pain in a previous population survey. Psychosocial variables were assessed using structured interviews and validated self-report measures. RESULTS: Psychiatric diagnoses, neuroticism, more highly threatening life event stress, an external locus of control and ineffectual coping styles were significantly associated with having a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and/or dyspepsia. Only somatization (odds ratio=5.28, 95% confidence interval 1.57-17.68), however, was independently associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Psychosocial factors did not discriminate between consulters and nonconsulters. CONCLUSIONS: Somatization is likely play a key role in explaining irritable bowel syndrome but not dyspepsia.     

3 Is functional dyspepsia just a subset of the irritable bowel syndrome?

To determine whether functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome are different entities, epidemiological data, factor analysis studies, physiological data and associated psychological symptoms were reviewed. Between 30% and 60% of patients with either diagnosis also meet the criteria for the other diagnosis, a level greater than expected to occur by chance but not sufficient to infer an identity. Most factor analysis studies identify independent clusters of symptoms corresponding to functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. Visceral hypersensitivity is seen throughout the gastrointestinal tract in both disorders, but the motility patterns seen in association with functional dyspepsia (principally antral hypomotility and delayed gastric emptying) differ from the motility patterns seen in irritable bowel syndrome. Psychological symptoms are similar in these two disorders but are not believed to be aetiological for either of them. Thus, based on a factor analysis of gastrointestinal symptoms and differences in intestinal motility, functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome appear to be different entities.     

Modern myths of clinical gastroenterology]

The appropriateness of further wide prevalence of diagnostics of gastroesophageal reflux disease, functional non-ulcer dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome is discussed. All these diseases are believed to be found in 30-50% of adults. It is very difficult to find a healthy person taking into account such an approach to the problem. As a matter of fact, gastroesophageal disease was invented by merging two different diseases: esophagitis and reflux esophagitis plus such a prevalent symptom as heartburn. All this leads to the hyperdiagnosis of this disease. The irritable bowel syndrome also includes two conditions: that of the irritable large intestine and dyskinesia of the small one. They are very different. The application of the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia leads to the practical disappearance of the diagnosis of chronic gastritis. At that symptoms of the dyskinetic form of functional dyspepsia coincide with minor symptoms of gastric carcinoma, which can lead to late diagnostics of this oncological disease. In this connection, it is necessary to narrow the limits of these diseases because their actual prevalence is much lower than that found in medical literature.     

What do patients with irritable bowel syndrome dream about? A comparison with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND: It is a common experience for people to dream of events about which they are either anxious or concerned. We therefore hypothesised that the dreams of patients with irritable bowel syndrome may reflect their worries about their problem especially as hospital out-patients with this disorder tend to exhibit some anxiety. In addition, dreaming about, for instance bowels, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome in excess of that observed in other gastrointestinal disorders may be of importance. AIM: To establish whether patients with irritable bowel syndrome dream about bowel-related issues more than controls or patients with inflammatory bowel disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 57 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 57 patients with inflammatory bowel disease were compared with 60 healthy controls. All subjects completed a structured questionnaire concerning sleeping habits and dream characteristics as well as an assessment of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: There were no differences in the sleeping habits between any of the groups. However, significantly more patients with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease dreamt about their bowels (22% inflammatory bowel disease patients, 18% irritable bowel syndrome patients vs 3% of controls, p < 0.05 inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome vs controls) and soiling themselves (16% of inflammatory bowel disease patients, 14% of irritable bowel syndrome patients vs 2% of controls; p < 0.05 inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome vs controls) than controls. CONCLUSION: Chronic gastrointestinal disorders, of both a functional and organic nature, may influence the nature of dreams. In those patients who dream about their symptoms, it would be interesting to know whether this affects the course of their disease, either positively or negatively, in any way.     

Fasting and postprandial gastrointestinal motility in ulcer and non-ulcer dyspepsia.

This study aimed to compare fasting and postprandial gastrointestinal motor patterns in patients with ulcer and non-ulcer dyspepsia. Forty five subjects were studied: 10 with uncomplicated gastric ulcer, eight with uncomplicated duodenal ulcer, 18 with chronic idiopathic dyspepsia, and nine healthy asymptomatic controls. Gastrointestinal fasting and postprandial motor patterns were recorded using a low compliance perfusion technique. The interdigestive antral cumulative motility index, computed for 30 minutes before the appearance of duodenal activity fronts, and the number of activity fronts with an antral component were significantly less in patients with ulcers and those with non-ulcer dyspepsia compared with asymptomatic controls. The patient groups also had a reduced antral motor response to a solid-liquid test meal compared with healthy controls. Intestinal motor abnormalities (bursts of non-propagated phasic pressure activity and discrete clustered contractions) were recorded in a minority of patients, all with associated irritable bowel symptoms. In conclusion, antral hypomotility is a frequent but nonspecific motor abnormality in dyspepsia; abnormal motor patterns of the small bowel are less frequent and seem to be confined to patients with concomitant irritable bowel syndrome.     

Diagnostic yield of alarm features in irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia

OBJECTIVE: The diagnostic value of the addition of alarm symptoms in distinguishing functional from organic gastrointestinal disease remains uncertain. We aimed to establish the value of alarm features in differentiating between organic disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: A total of 568 consecutive patients (63% female; mean age 44.7 years) completed a detailed symptom questionnaire and then received a complete diagnostic workup, as required. Questionnaire data were collected prospectively and audited retrospectively; the treating physician was blinded to the results of the questionnaires. Patients were coded and allocated to the following diagnostic groups: IBS, FD, organic diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract, or organic diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract. Logistic regression was used to identify the best subset of symptoms that discriminated organic disease from functional illness. Separate models compared IBS (n = 214) with diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract (n = 66), and FD (n = 70) with diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract (n = 250). RESULTS: Age (50 years at symptom onset: odds ratio (OR) 2.65 (95% confidence interval 1.4-5.0); p = 0.002) and blood on the toilet paper (OR 2.7 (1.4-5.1);p = 0.002) emerged as alarm features that discriminated IBS from lower gastrointestinal illness. A diagnosis of IBS was typically associated with female sex (OR2.5 (1.3-4.6); p = 0.004), pain on six or more occasions in the previous year (OR 5.0 (2.2-11.1); p<0.001), pain that radiated outside of the abdomen (OR 2.9 (1.4-6.3); p = 0.006), and pain associated with looser bowel motions (OR 2.1 (1.1-4.2); p = 0.03). A model incorporating three Manning criteria and alarm features yielded a correct diagnosis of IBS in 96% and a correct diagnosis of organic disease in 52% of cases. Alarm features did not discriminate FD from upper gastrointestinal disease. Patients with FD were significantly more likely to report upper abdominal pain (OR 3.7 (1.7-8.3); p = 0.002) and significantly less likely to report aspirin use (OR 0.26 (0.1-0.6); p = 0.001). The predictive value of symptoms in diagnosing FD was only 17%. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms plus alarm features have a high predictive value for diagnosing IBS but the predictive value for a diagnosis of FD remains poor. Current criteria for the diagnosis of IBS should incorporate relevant alarm features to improve the diagnostic yield.     

A database on dyspepsia.

A prospective study of dyspepsia was carried out in a primary referral hospital between 1974-1987 including 1540 patients of whom 1433 were seen as outpatients. The study protocol was agreed in advance and a structured questionnaire was used to elicit relevant clinical information: up to three diagnoses were permitted for each patient. The commonest principal diagnoses were duodenal ulcer (26%), functional dyspepsia (22%), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (15%); alcohol related dyspepsia (4%) was as common as gastric carcinoma or symptomatic gall stones. Multiple diagnoses were common (31% given two diagnoses, and 6% given three) so that in all 2111 diagnoses were given to 1540 patients; the functional disorders (IBS and functional dyspepsia) considered together accounted for 39% of all diagnoses made. Whereas organic conditions were diagnosed by clinicians with confidence (63-98% considered 'certain'), even when given as the principal or first diagnosis IBS was considered 'certain' in only 61% and functional dyspepsia 48%. The demographic symptom data, together with information on tobacco and alcohol use, and work lost are described in detail.     

Alternative medicine consultations and remedies in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome.

The use of alternative medicine was assessed by questionnaire in 96 patients with irritable bowel syndrome, 143 patients with organic upper gastrointestinal disorders and 222 patients with Crohn's disease of comparable age and sex. Significantly more patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (16%) had consulted practitioners of alternative medicine about their condition than had patients in either of the other groups. Similarly, significantly more irritable bowel syndrome patients said they would consult an alternative medicine practitioner (41%) if conventional treatment failed. Current usage of alternative medicine remedies was significantly greater in the irritable bowel syndrome patients (11%) than in patients with Crohn's disease (4%) and tended to be greater than in patients with organic upper gastrointestinal disorders (6%). This study has shown that the use of alternative medicine is common in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and this does not appear to be explicable in terms of the nature, chronicity or refractoriness to treatment of symptoms.     

Abnormalities of the electrogastrogram in functional gastrointestinal disorders

OBJECTIVE: Cutaneous electrogastrography records gastric electrical activity and detects gastric arrhythmias. Abnormalities of the electrogastrogram have been described in a variety of disorders, but their specificity and their prevalence in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders has not been reported. The aim of this study was to assess the specificity of electrogastrography as well as the prevalence and pattern of abnormalities in functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. METHODS: Electrogastrography was performed in 170 patients with functional dyspepsia, 70 patients with irritable bowel syndrome, 20 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, and 30 asymptomatic controls. The abnormal electrogastrogram was defined as <70% normal electrical activity either before or after a test meal. RESULTS: The electrogastrogram was abnormal in 36% of patients with functional dyspepsia and in 25% with irritable bowel syndrome who complained of concurrent dyspepsia. The electrogastrogram was normal in 93% of asymptomatic controls, 90% of patients with gastroesophageal reflux, and 92% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome who did not complain of dyspepsia. As a group, functional dyspepsia patients had a greater degree of tachygastrias both before (p < 0.02) and after (p < 0.01) a test meal. The electrical frequency after the test meal was also more unstable (p < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The electrogastrogram is abnormal in approximately 36% of functional dyspepsia patients and has a specificity of approximately 93%. Electrogastrography defines a subgroup of patients with functional dyspepsia and electrical rhythm disturbance. In irritable bowel syndrome, the electrogastrogram is usually abnormal only if concurrent dyspepsia is present.     

10 Are psychosocial factors of aetiological importance in functional dyspepsia?

The causes of functional dyspepsia remain unclear. Research has linked other functional gastrointestinal disorders, particularly irritable bowel syndrome, to a history of physical or sexual abuse, psychosocial distress and certain psychiatric disorders. In functional dyspepsia, there is a possibility of certain psychiatric disorders, particularly alcohol abuse and eating disorders, indirectly influencing the development of functional dyspepsia-like symptoms. However, the literature on possible psychosocial correlates in functional dyspepsia is not as mature as the literature on irritable bowel syndrome. This paper critically reviews the psychosocial dimensions and implications for the psychotherapeutic treatment of functional dyspepsia.     

Placebo responses and placebo effects in functional bowel disorders

The nature and determinants of the placebo response are widely unknown, as are the underlying psychological and biological mechanisms. Placebo response rates in functional bowel disorders (functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome) trials are similar to those in nonintestinal pain conditions and are comparable with other organic gastrointestinal diseases (duodenal ulcer, inflammatory bowel diseases). In this narrative review, different methodologies (meta-analyses, reanalyses, and experimental setups) are discussed that have been applied to the study of the placebo response in functional dyspepsia and the irritable bowel syndrome.     

Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in women who report domestic violence to the police.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Retrospective studies found an association between past sexual, physical, or psychological abuse and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). However, there are no studies evaluating such an association concurrently with the ongoing abuse. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of the main FGIDs, functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, in 70 women reporting a situation of domestic violence to the police and to evaluate the level of psychological distress and its relationship with the presence of FGID. METHODS: Through an interview between a social worker and the woman reporting abuse, digestive symptoms, psychological status, and type of abuse were recorded. These data were matched against police records. Functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome were diagnosed according to Rome II criteria. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of the women had an FGID: 67% functional dyspepsia, 47% irritable bowel syndrome, and 43% both. In two thirds of the cases, FGID onset occurred simultaneously with or soon after abuse onset. Only 34% of the women had sought medical attention for FGID symptoms. No differences were found between women with or without FGID regarding age and type or duration of abuse; psychological distress tended to be more severe in the group of women with FGIDs. CONCLUSIONS: Most women who suffer domestic violence (reported to the police) have functional dyspepsia and/or irritable bowel syndrome and also have elevated psychological distress. This has important implications, not only for comprehensive health care of women in a situation of abuse, but also for medical treatment of women with FGIDs.     

Irritable bowel syndrome in general practice: prevalence, characteristics, and referral

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Little is known about the prevalence, symptoms, diagnosis, attitude, and referral to specialists of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in general practice. This study aimed to determine these characteristics. METHODS: 3111 patients attending 36 general practitioners (GPs) at six varied locations in and near Bristol, UK, were screened to identify those with a gastrointestinal problem. These patients (n=255) and their doctors were given questionnaires. Six months later the case notes were examined to reach criteria based diagnoses of functional bowel disorders. RESULTS: Of 255 patients with a gastrointestinal complaint, 30% were judged to have IBS and 14% other functional disorders. Compared with 100 patients with an "organic" diagnoses, those with IBS were more often women and more often judged by their GP to be polysymptomatic and to have unexplained symptoms. The majority of patients with IBS (58%) were diagnosed as such by the GP; 22% had other functional diagnoses. Conversely, among 54 patients diagnosed as having IBS by the GPs, the criteria based diagnosis was indeed functional in 91%; only one patient had organic disease (proctitis). More patients with IBS than those with organic disease feared cancer. In most some fear remained after the visit to the doctor. On logistic regression analysis, predictors of referral to a specialist (29% referred) were denial of a role for stress, multiple tests, and frequent bowel movements. CONCLUSIONS: Half the patients with gut complaints seen by GPs have functional disorders. These are usually recognised, and few patients are referred. In IBS, cancer fears often remain, suggesting unconfident diagnosis or inadequate explanation.     

Symptoms discriminate irritable bowel syndrome from organic gastrointestinal diseases and food allergy

BACKGROUND: The value of specific gastrointestinal symptoms in discriminating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from organic disease has been documented. In contrast, there have been few attempts to identify symptoms that discriminate irritable bowel syndrome from food allergy, despite similarities in their respective symptom complexes. We aimed to investigate the value of symptoms in discriminating irritable bowel syndrome from organic disease and food allergy. METHODS: Subjects (n = 288) were recruited from consecutive patients presenting to the Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Allergy Units in Chieti. Patients completed the validated Bowel Disease Questionnaire (BDQ) prior to an independent diagnostic evaluation, which included endoscopy when appropriate. Food allergy was diagnosed using a 2-week elimination diet, followed by a placebo-controlled food challenge test, a skin prick test and serum RAST for specific IgE for suspected foods or additives. The results of the BDQ were not considered in formulating a diagnosis. In total, 99 patients were diagnosed with the IBS, 79 patients were diagnosed with organic disease and 22 patients were diagnosed with food allergy. A further 88 patients with extraintestinal allergies were included as a control group. RESULTS: Based on logistic regression analysis, six symptom items discriminated IBS from organic disease, while five symptoms discriminated patients with IBS from control subjects. A diagnosis of IBS compared to organic disease was positively associated with straining on defaecation (P=0.0001), diarrhoea (P=0.001) and abdominal bloating (P=0.01), but was negatively associated with pain in the upper abdomen (P=0.0004), reflux (P=0.0001) and appetite loss (P=0.004). A diagnosis of IBS compared to extraintestinal allergy was positively associated with pain relieved by bowel movement (P=0.0001), pain in the lower abdomen (P=0.0006), pain in both the upper and lower abdomen (P=0.003), frequent pain (P=0.001) and abdominal bloating (P=0.0009). In comparison between IBS and food allergy patients, a diagnosis of IBS was positively associated with pain in the lower abdomen (P=0.001), pain relieved by bowel movements (P=0.001), frequent pain (P=0.02) and abdominal bloating (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Symptoms appear to be useful for discriminating IBS from organic gastrointestinal disease and food allergy.     

Relation between hysterectomy and the irritable bowel: a prospective study.

Some women with irritable bowel syndrome date the onset of symptoms to previous hysterectomy. To assess prospectively the incidence of gastrointestinal symptomatology arising de novo after hysterectomy, and to study the effect of surgery on pre-existing symptoms, 205 women completed a symptom questionnaire before and six weeks and six months after surgery. Beforehand, symptoms suggestive of irritable bowel syndrome occurred in 22% of patients. At six months after operation, 60% of these had improved or were symptom free while 20% had increased symptomatology. New gastrointestinal symptoms were present more than once per week in 10% of previously asymptomatic women. Constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome was the commonest symptom complex seen de novo, occurring more than once per week in 5% of the group. No relation was found between new symptomatology and the type of hysterectomy, oophorectomy, or the administration of perioperative antibiotics. This study suggests that many women with pre-existing gastrointestinal symptomatology improve after hysterectomy. However, symptoms suggestive of irritable bowel syndrome do arise de novo in 10%. As hysterectomy is common, gastroenterologists can expect to see women presenting with post-hysterectomy problems.     

Current understanding of pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a disorder in which upper abdominal symptoms occur in the absence of organic disease that explains them. Many pathogenic factors have been proposed for FD, including motility abnormalities, visceral hypersensitivity, psychosocial factors, excessive gastric acid secretion, Helicobacter pylori, genetics, environment, diet, lifestyle, and post-infectious FD. Many of those pathogenic factors are also common to irritable bowel syndrome and other functional gastrointestinal disorders, so understanding FD offers a glimpse into the nature of functional gastrointestinal disorders in general. Motility abnormalities and visceral hypersensitivity are thought to be important in the manifestation of FD symptoms, but the other factors are also thought to contribute by interacting and modifying motility and visceral hypersensitivity.     

Gender difference in the overlap of irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia: a prospective nationwide multicenter study in Korea

Journal of Gastroenterology - The overlap between functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with more severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and lower quality of...