title: Increased beta-adrenergic sensitivity correlates with visceral hypersensitivity in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Autonomic imbalance has been proposed to be a pathophysiological factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to assess beta-adrenergic abnormalities in IBS and to evaluate their relationship to visceral hypersensitivity and other symptoms of IBS patients. Sixteen IBS patients and 16 control subjects were recruited into this study. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding bowel symptoms, and in order to study beta-adrenergic sensitivity, isoproterenol stimulation tests were performed and visceral hypersensitivity was evaluated by barostat test. Results showed that beta-adrenergic activity and rectal sensitivity were more pronounced in IBS patients than in normal control patients (P < 0.01). Although both IBS subgroups also exhibited more pronounced beta-adrenergic sensitivity than did the controls (P < 0.05), a significant correlation between beta-adrenergic activity and maximally tolerable pressures on the barostat test was found only in IBS-C patients (P = 0.03, R = 0.855). In addition, patients with "hard or lumpy" stools exhibited a higher degree of beta-adrenergic activity (P = 0.00). We conclude that increased beta-adrenergic activity significantly correlated with visceral hypersensitivity in constipation-predominant IBS and symptoms of hard or lumpy stools in IBS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Poong-Lyul
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Hyun Seo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun Haeng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Eun Ho
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Bum-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012677:Sensation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014781:Viscera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D007545:Isoproterenol