title: Measurement of colonic transit time based on radio opaque markers in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation; a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders particularly in industrialized countries. Incidence of constipation varies from 3.4 % to 27.2% in different societies. Increase in urban population, industrialization of communities, changes in behavioral and nutritional habits and inactivity have increased the number of patients suffering from constipation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to measure colonic transit time in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients with chronic idiopathic constipation (according to ROME III criteria) were selected. Patients with diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and hypoparathyroidism were excluded. Each patient took a capsule containing ten 1-3 mm long angiographic guide daily for 6 days. Abdominal x-ray was performed on the seventh day. Remaining markers in each segment were counted and segmental and total colonic transit time was calculated. The analysis was performed by SPSS version 18. In all tests, a P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 36.9 ± 10.1 years. 80.8 % of patients were female. The mean total colonic transit time was 40.8 ±35.1 hours. 34.6 % of patients and 36.5 % of them had prolonged total and segmental colonic transit time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that prolonged total and segmental colonic transit time is common in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hazhir
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saberi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asefi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keshvari
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Rasool Akram Hospital, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agah
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Rasool Akram Hospital, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asefi
keywords: Constipation; Habits; Hypothyroidism