title: Anismus: a marker of multi-site functional disorders?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to assess the clinical significance of anismus in patients who complain of constipation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty control subjects and 93 consecutive patients complaining of functional constipation took part in the study. Colonic transit time study and anorectal manometry were performed. Questions about depression and urinary and sexual diseases were added to a questionnaire based on the Rome II criteria, and visual analog scales about four items (constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal bloating and abdominal pain).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Constipated patients have lower threshold sensation volume, lower constant sensation volume, and lower maximum tolerable volume than controls. Thirty-seven patients (40%) were found to have anismus, based on anorectal manometry. No significant difference was found between constipated patients with anismus and constipated patients without anismus, using anorectal manometry. Constipated patients had longer colorectal transit time than controls, but neither total nor segmental colonic transit time was correlated with the presence or absence of anismus. In patients with anismus, a higher frequency of oesophageal symptoms, dysmotility-like dyspepsia, aerophagia, functional bowel disorders, functional abdominal pain, soiling, and dyschezia was found. In addition, a higher frequency of urinary complaints, sexual complaints, and depression was found. Anismus was associated with increased awareness of constipation, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain, but not with diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Digestive Physiology, Hôpital Broussais, 96, rue Didot, 75014 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouchoucha
authors.forename: Ghislain
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Devroede
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arsac
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000150:complications; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000150:complications