title: Plasma cytokine profiles in females with irritable bowel syndrome and extra-intestinal co-morbidity.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scully
authors.forename: Declan P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McKernan
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keohane
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Groeger
authors.forename: Fergus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shanahan
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Dinan
authors.forename: Eamonn M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Quigley
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines