Visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome: a summary review.
We examined published reports from 1970 to the present to evaluate the theory that abnormal visceral sensitivity characterizes the irritable bowel syndrome. Evidence to support claims that abnormal visceral sensitivity defines the irritable bowel syndrome falls short because of cognitive deficits in gastrointestinal neurobiology, limitations in experimental design and execution, and the interpretation of results.
Stacher
Georg
G
Department of Surgery, University of Vienna, Austria. georg.stacher@gmx.net
Christensen
James
J
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017833:Visceral Afferents / Q000503:physiopathology*