Potential Biomarkers
A “biomarker” (biological marker) is an indicator of a bodily function that can be objectively measured. A wide range of possible biomarkers for IBS have been considered but at present…
Symptom-Based Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: the More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
Medical students are taught that 90% of all diagnoses are made through careful assessment of the patients’ symptoms. Clinicians now rely heavily on techniques such as endoscopy or radiology before…
The Role of Diagnostic Testing in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
This article discusses the diagnostic criteria and processes applicable to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The authors describe the various diagnostic criteria with a focus on the Rome criteria for IBS…
Inflammation and Microflora
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal condition, affecting 10% to 20% of adults in developed countries. Over the last few years, growing evidence has supported a new…
The Role of Genetics in IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that has been shown to aggregate in families and to affect multiple generations, but not in a manner consistent with a major…
Traditional Thoughts on the Pathophysiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The pathogenesis of symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is multifactorial and varies from patient to patient. Disturbances of motor function in the small intestine and colon and smooth-muscle dysfunction…
Epidemiology of IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. Because not everyone needs to seek care, population-based studies are needed to truly understand the epidemiology of IBS. About…
The Effect of Irritable Bowel Syndrome on Health-Related Quality of Life and Health Care Expenditures
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent condition with a large health economic burden of illness marked by impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL), diminished work productivity, and high…
