title: Clinical aspects of neurointestinal disease: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.
abstract: The enteric nervous system (ENS) is involved in the regulation of virtually all gut functions. Conditions referred to as enteric neuropathies are the result of various mechanisms including abnormal development, degeneration or loss of enteric neurons that affect the structure and functional integrity of the ENS. In the past decade, clinical and molecular research has led to important conceptual advances in our knowledge of the pathogenetic mechanisms of these disorders. In this review we consider ENS disorders from a clinical perspective and highlight the advancing knowledge regarding their pathophysiology. We also review current therapies for these diseases and present potential novel reparative approaches for their treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Center for Neurointestinal Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: agoldstein@partners.org.
authors.forename: Allan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Department of Gastroenterology, UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thapar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Gastrointestinal System, University of Bologna and St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy; Centro di Ricerca BioMedica Applicata (C.R.B.A.), University of Bologna and St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Tennekoon Buddhika
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Karunaratne
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Gastrointestinal System, University of Bologna and St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy; Centro di Ricerca BioMedica Applicata (C.R.B.A.), University of Bologna and St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Giorgio
mesh_terms: D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003248:Constipation / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000294:innervation* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy