title: Belching in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Impedance Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are limited data about the relation between belching and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aim to evaluate belching in patients with IBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with IBS and 12 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. IBS was diagnosed in accordance with the Rome III criteria. All patients were questioned about the presence of symptoms for belching, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and dyspepsia. Esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH-impedance were performed in all patients and healthy volunteers. Each of the patients with IBS underwent gastroscopy and colonoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic features were similar in both groups (P> 0.05). The belching rate was 32% in patients with IBS. The mean DeMeester score was significantly higher in IBS patients (13.80 ± 14.40 vs 6.04 ± 5.60,P= 0.027) and 24% of patients had pathologic acid reflux (DeMeester score > 14). Gastroscopy was normal in all patients. Symptom association probability positivity was detected in 24% of patients in the impedance study. The rate of weak acid reflux was also significantly higher in patients with IBS (97.00 ± 56.20 vs 58.20 ± 29.30,P= 0.025). The number of supine gas reflux (7.50 ± 6.40 vs 2.42 ± 2.80,P= 0.001) and supragastric belches was significantly higher in patients with IBS (51.20 ± 41.20 vs 25.08 ± 15.20,P= 0.035). Although the number of gastric belching was higher in controls, the difference did not reach statistical significance (12.10 ± 17.60 vs 4.90 ± 3.80,P= 0.575). We did not find any correlation between belching and any symptoms of IBS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Belching is frequent in patients with IBS. Non-erosive reflux disease is frequent in IBS, which may be related to supragastric belching.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Tuba
authors: T
authors: Obekli
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Filiz
authors: F
authors: Akyuz
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Educational and Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Umit
authors: U
authors: Akyuz
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Serpil
authors: S
authors: Arici
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Raim
authors: R
authors: İliaz
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Suut
authors: S
authors: Gokturk
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Sami
authors: S
authors: Evirgen
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Bilger
authors: B
authors: Cavus
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Cetin
authors: C
authors: Karaca
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Kadir
authors: K
authors: Demir
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Fatih
authors: F
authors: Besisik
authors: Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Sabahattin
authors: S
authors: Kaymakoglu
keywords: Belching; Gastroesophageal reflux; Impedance; Irritable bowel syndrome