Visceral hypersensitivity following cold water intake in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Visceral hypersensitivity has been shown to be present in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study sought to investigate rectal sensitivity and abdominal symptoms in IBS patients before and after 220 ml cold water intake.


METHODS
A total of 60 IBS patients and 18 healthy controls participated in this study. Both the perception thresholds and defecation thresholds to rectal balloon distension were measured. Then, all subjects were asked to drink 220 ml 37 degrees C warm water or 4 degrees C cold water, and these steps were repeated 20 min later. Symptoms including abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, and diarrhea were recorded during the study.


RESULTS
Compared with the controls, the thresholds of initial sensation to rectal balloon distention in IBS patients were significantly lower while the defecation thresholds were higher in constipation-predominant IBS patients. After drinking cold water, the perception thresholds in IBS patients and the defecation thresholds in diarrhea-predominant IBS patients were further decreased. However, warm water intake did not change the perception thresholds significantly in either IBS patients or controls. A negative linear correlation was found between the symptoms and the visceral perception thresholds in diarrhea-predominant IBS patients who showed significant symptoms after cold water intake.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated that cold water intake leads to lowered visceral perception thresholds in IBS patients that were inversely relevant to the abdominal symptoms in symptomatic diarrhea-predominant IBS patients. The alteration of rectal sensitivity and abdominal symptoms following cold water stimulation provided further objective evidence for visceral hypersensitivity in IBS patients.
Zuo
Xiu Li
XL
Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Li
Yan Qing
YQ
Shi
Lei
L
Lv
Guo Ping
GP
Kuang
Rong Guang
RG
Lu
Xue Feng
XF
Li
Jun Man
JM
Desmond
Paul V
PV
D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D004106:Dilatation; D004326:Drinking / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000503:physiopathology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011379:Prognosis; D012007:Rectum; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D014781:Viscera / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014867:Water