Plasma cytokine profiles in females with irritable bowel syndrome and extra-intestinal co-morbidity.
OBJECTIVE
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder that is associated with a number of extra-intestinal co-morbidities and a pro-inflammatory profile. This study was designed to examine the cytokine profile among a group of IBS patients with the extra-intestinal co-morbidities fibromyalgia, premenstrual dysmorphic disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome.


METHODS
In all, 100 female IBS patients with these co-morbidities, 21 IBS subjects without co-morbidity ("pure" IBS; Rome II), and 54 age-matched female controls took part in the study. Blood was drawn for measurement of the plasma cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, and interferon γ. The presence of the selected extra-intestinal manifestations was assessed using standard international criteria.


RESULTS
Patients with IBS have increased plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-8; those with these extra-intestinal co-morbidities were found to have, in addition, increased levels of IL-1β and TNFα. No associations were evident between cytokine profiles and the nature of the co-morbidity or number of extra-intestinal co-morbidities present.


CONCLUSIONS
Although IBS is characterized by a pro-inflammatory profile featuring the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, IBS patients with certain extra-intestinal co-morbid conditions are distinguished by additional elevations in IL-1β and TNFα.
Scully
Paul
P
Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Ireland.
McKernan
Declan P
DP
Keohane
John
J
Groeger
David
D
Shanahan
Fergus
F
Dinan
Timothy G
TG
Quigley
Eamonn M M
EM
D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D016207:Cytokines