title: [Perception of pain during sigmoidoscopy flexible as an additional diagnostic method for irritable bowel syndrome].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Visceral hypersensitivity has been proposed as a biological marker of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the pain perception during sigmoidoscopy using a visual analog scale of pain in patients with or without IBS, and to assess the pain perception as diagnostic criteria for IBS. We further assessed the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic efficiency of pain scores to diagnose IBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective case-control study in patients who underwent sigmoidoscopy for the evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms. All patients completed Rome III criteria questionnaires and divided into two groups: IBS and non-IBS. All participants reported pain scores on visual analog scales after of study. Differences were evaluated. We calculated a receiver-operator characteristic curve (ROC), sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic efficiency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 20 patients with IBS and 20 controls. The pain scores were higher in IBS patients compared with non-IBS patients (median, 52.5 vs. 27.5, p = 0.006). The area under the curve was 0.84, at pain score level of ≥ 40 mm with a sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic efficiency of 85%, 75% and 80%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree of pain perception was higher in IBS patients than in non-IBS patients during sigmoidoscopy. A score of pain perception in ≥ 40 mm may predict the diagnosis of IBS with good sensitivity (85%) and specificity (75%).
authors.affiliation: Departamento del Aparato Digestivo - Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins Clínica Centenario Peruano Japonesa.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chacaltana Mendoza
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Díaz Ríos
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alva Alva
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vásquez Valverde
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celestino Morales
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D058748:Pain Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy; D055815:Young Adult