title: Idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction: a familial visceral neuropathy.
abstract: Four individuals with idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IIP), a familial visceral neuropathy with autosomal dominant inheritance, are presented. The disorder is characterised by abdominal colic, abdominal distension and diarrhoea, and is of a progressive nature with relapses and remissions. The main feature is a disturbance of motility in the affected intestine, with histological evidence of a neuronal disorder, characterised by hyperplasia and eventual atrophy. Management of the condition is difficult; initially, treatment should be conservative by nasogastric suction with intravenous nutrition. When laparotomy is undertaken to exclude mechanical obstruction, resection of the intestine is inadvisable, and ileo-colic anastomosis may be beneficial.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010375:Pedigree