Chronic constipation: no more idiopathic, but a true neuropathological entity.
Chronic constipation is still considered a functional or idiopathic disorder. However, in recent years there is evidence that its pathopysiological grounds may be actually due to a complex system of abnormalities of the enteric nervous system of these patients. In particular, as reported in this review, the enteric glial cells seem to be constantly involved in constipated patients, suggesting that (at least some forms of) constipation should be considered as true neuro-gliopathies.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.
Gabrio
G
Bassotti
Department of Pathology Spedali Civili of Brescia, Italy.
Vincenzo
V
Villanacci
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Rostami Nejad
Constipation; Enteric glial cells; Enteric nervous system; Enteric neurons