Evaluation of gallbladder motility in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Abnormalities involving smooth muscle function in different systems of the body have been reported in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are a few studies on gallbladder function in this disorder with conflicting results.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the motility of gallbladder in patients with IBS.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients (15 male and 33 female) with IBS and 48 healthy volunteers (15 male and 33 female) were included into the study. Thirty-four patients (70.8%) had constipation predominant and 14 patients (29.2%) had diarrhoea predominant type of IBS. Fasting and postprandial gallbladder volumes were studied using real time ultrasonography and ejection fraction (EF) of gallbladder was calculated.


RESULTS
While fasting gallbladder volume (FGV) was similar between IBS and control groups (18.0 +/- 4.0 ml vs. 17.8 +/- 4.9 ml, p >0.05), postprandial gallbladder volume (PGV) was lower in IBS group than in the control group (5.5 +/- 1.4 ml vs. 6.2 +/- 1.9 ml, p = 0.03). Accordingly, the mean EF of gallbladders was found to be higher in IBS group than in the control group (69.1% vs. 64.1%, p = 0.0001). There were no difference in FGV, PGV and EF of gallbladders between constipation predominant and diarrhoea predominant IBS patients (p >0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicated that IBS patients have increased emptying of gallbladder compared to healthy subjects.
Guliter
Sefa
S
Department of Gastroenterology, University of Kirikkale School of Medicine, Turkey. sguliter@hotmail.com
Yilmaz
Sevda
S
Yakaryilmaz
Fahri
F
Keles
Hatice
H
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000502:physiology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D019518:Postprandial Period; D014463:Ultrasonography