title: The irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Symptoms of IBS are very prevalent. One quarter of symptomatic individuals present for medical care because of symptom severity and psychologic factors. The pathogenesis of IBS is multifactorial, involving abnormalities in the gut, immune system, enteric sensory and motor nerves, and the CNS. IBS is diagnosed by symptomatology according to the Rome criteria and the absence of alarm findings suggestive of organic disease. Minimal testing is advocated to confirm the diagnosis in patients presenting with typical symptoms. Therapy is based on the dominant symptom (IBS subtype). Therapeutic options include dietary modifications, counseling, medications, and psychologic treatments. Novel therapies are being investigated to correct potentially pathogenetic peripheral and CNS abnormalities in IBS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, 3912 Taubman Center, Box 0362, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. whasler@umich.edu
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hasler
mesh_terms: D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D010276:Parasympatholytics