Heretical thoughts about food hypersensitivity: small bowel manometry as an objective way to document gut reactions.
BACKGROUND
Food hypersensitivity is a frequent complaint by both pediatric and adult subjects. However, notwithstanding patient' belief about 'allergies' related to food stuffs, only a minority of them have actually such a diagnosis substantiated. Moreover, the diagnostic approach to these problems is cumbersome and unsatisfactory, and the objectivation of a food hypersensitivity is often difficult.


METHODS
For these reasons we studied by means of small bowel manometry a small group of patients with food hypersensitivity, and showed abnormal fasting and postprandial findings in those with the gut as a target organ on clinical grounds.


RESULTS
Manometric abnormalities were somewhat similar to those previously described in celiac disease, a well recognized food allergy disease. The possible usefulness of this technique in the investigative approach of food hypersensitivity is discussed.
Bassotti
G
G
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Perugia Medical School, Italy.
Bertotto
A
A
Spinozzi
F
F
D000328:Adult; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged