title: Inflammation and microflora.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal condition, affecting 10% to 20% of adults in developed countries. Over the last few years, growing evidence has supported a new hypothesis for IBS based on alterations in intestinal bacterial composition. This article reviews the evidence for a bacterial concept in IBS and begins to formulate a hypothesis of how these bacterial systems could integrate in a new pathophysiologic mechanism in the development of IBS. Data suggesting an interaction between this gut flora and inflammation in the context of IBS is also presented.
authors.affiliation: GI Motility Program, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8730 Alden Drive, Suite 225E, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. pimentelm@cshs.org
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000502:physiology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008697:Methane