title: Rectal function and bowel habit in irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rectal compliance may influence rectal perception, but their functional implications remain incompletely understood. Our aim was to determine whether rectal function is related to bowel habit in the irritable bowel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The responses to fixed tension rectal distension applied by means of a tensostat were compared among constipation-predominant (n = 9), diarrhea-predominant (n = 7), alternating habit (n = 11) irritable syndrome subgroups, and healthy controls (n = 15).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, patients had normal rectal compliance and increased perception, but compliance was lower in diarrhea-predominant as compared to constipation-predominant patients (6.7 +/- 0.7 ml/mmHg vs. 9.9 +/- 0.7 ml/mmHg, respectively; p < 0.05) and perception was higher (39 +/- 6 g vs. 64 +/- 9 g tolerance, respectively; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distinctive tensosensitivity and compliance characterize rectal function in irritable bowel syndrome subgroups with different bowel habit.
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Distrutti
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salvioli
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azpiroz
authors.forename: Juan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Malagelada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology; D003672:Defecation; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012677:Sensation; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires