Citations

AbstractBackgroundThe etiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not been fully elucidated, but childhood trauma may disturb the brain–gut axis and therefore be important. Thus, we conducted a family based case–control study of IBS cases and their relatives with the aims to (i) determine the frequency of childhood trauma among IBS cases and controls as well as their relatives, and (ii) assess childhood trauma among IBS cases with affected relatives (familial IBS).MethodsOutpatients with IBS, matched controls, and their first‐degree relatives completed a self‐report version of Bremner' Early Trauma Inventory. Percent of cases and controls with a family history were compared and odds ratios were computed using chi‐squared test; recurrence risks to relatives were computed using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations.Key ResultsData were collected from 409 cases, 415 controls, 825 case relatives, and 921 control relatives. IBS cases had a median age of 50 and 83% were women. Of IBS cases, 74% had experienced any general trauma compared to 59% among controls, yielding an odds ratio of 1.56 (95% CI: 1.13–2.15, p < 0.008). There were no statistical differences between IBS relatives and control relatives with regards to lifetime trauma.Conclusions & InferencesIBS is associated with childhood trauma, and these traumas often occur prior to onset of IBS symptoms. This provides further insight into how traumatic childhood events are associated with development of adult IBS.

SummaryBackgroundThe population ≥65 years is rapidly increasing, but remarkably little is known about the natural history of abdominal pain with ageing.AimTo prospectively evaluate the natural history of abdominal pain (severity and frequency) in a US population, and evaluate potential risk factors (including somatisation) for the onset and disappearance of abdominal pain with increasing age.MethodsBetween 1988 and 2004, valid self‐report questionnaires that recorded gastrointestinal symptoms including severity and frequency of abdominal pain were mailed to randomly selected cohorts of community residents followed over time. This study identified all respondents who answered abdominal pain questions at an initial and follow‐up survey.ResultsOne thousand nine hundred and thirteen subjects were included (mean age in years at first survey: 48 ± 12 (SD), mean age at second survey: 59 ± 13 (SD); 53% female). The onset and disappearance rate of abdominal pain over the follow‐up were 18% (95% CI, 16, 20) and 47% (43, 50) respectively. The rates of increasing vs. decreasing abdominal pain score were 18% (16, 20) vs. 21% (20, 23) respectively. While younger age at initial survey was associated with the onset of abdominal pain {vs. subjects without abdominal pain, [OR 0.9 (0.7, 1.0)]}, older age at initial survey and times between surveys were associated with the disappearance of abdominal pain {vs. subjects with abdominal pain, [OR 1.2 (1.0, 1.5)]}. Female gender (OR 1.4 [1.0, 2.1]), higher somatisation scores (OR 5.3 [3.2, 8.7]) and larger changes in somatisation score (OR 2.1 [1.4, 3.2]) were positively associated with the onset of abdominal pain.ConclusionIncreasing age is associated with the disappearance of abdominal pain in the community.

SummaryBackgroundCurrent diagnostic guidelines recommend that eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) should be diagnosed only after GERD is excluded by a lack of response to a trial of acid suppression. There is limited information available providing outcome data about the effectiveness of this approach.AimTo examine the impact of double‐dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy on symptoms, endoscopic and histological features in patients with documented oesophageal eosinophilia consistent with EoE (≥15 eosinophils/high‐power field).MethodsSixty consecutive symptomatic patients with documented oesophageal eosinophilia received open‐label omeprazole 20 mg orally twice daily before meals for 8 weeks. Clinical, endoscopic and histological (resolution: 0–5 eosinophils/HPF, partial improvement: 5–14 eosinophils/HPF), or no improvement: (≥15 eosinophils/HPF) evaluation was repeated at the end of this period. An expert GI pathologist, unaware of the study aims, reviewed all slides.ResultsClinical improvement occurred in 43 (71.6%), endoscopic signs were reduced in 34 (61.8%) and normalised in 12 (21.8%), and histologically, 34 (56.6%) improved, while 15 (25%) obtained complete resolution. Overall, 22 patients (36.7%) obtained both complete clinical and histological remission.ConclusionsMore than 50% of patients with documented oesophageal eosinophilic infiltration in the EoE range improved when treated with a double‐dose PPI trial for 8 weeks. These findings support the published guidelines recommending a PPI trial prior to diagnosing EoE, and confirm the existence of an eosinophilic oesophageal infiltrationPPI‐responsive population.

AbstractBackgroundLow basal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and transient LES relaxations are major causes of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Pumosetrag, a novel selective partial 5HT3 receptor agonist, showed a promising effect on reducing reflux events in health. We aimed to evaluate the effect of pumosetrag on changes in reflux episodes, lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), and specific symptoms in patients with GERD receiving a refluxogenic meal.MethodsPatients with GERD, who developed heartburn and/or regurgitation after ingestion of a refluxogenic meal, were randomized to 1 of 3 dose levels of pumosetrag (0.2, 0.5, or 0.8 mg) or placebo. Before and after 7 days of treatment, patients underwent manometry, intraesophageal multichannel, intraluminal impedance and pH after a standard refluxogenic meal.Key ResultsA total of 223 patients with GERD [125 (56%) women, mean (SD) age = 36 (12) years] were enrolled. No overall treatment effects were detected for the total number of reflux episodes (acidic and weakly acidic) (p > 0.5); however, significant treatment effects (p < 0.05) on the number of acid reflux episodes were observed with lower values on pumosetrag 0.2 mg (10.8 ± 1.1), 0.5 mg (9.5 ± 1.1), and 0.8 mg (9.9 ± 1.1) compared with placebo (13.3 ± 1.1). Significant treatment effects (p < 0.05) were also observed for the percentage of time pH was <4, with less time for pumosetrag at 0.5 mg (10%) and 0.8 mg (10%) compared with placebo (16%).Conclusions & InferencesIn GERD, the partial 5HT3 agonist pumosetrag significantly reduced the rate of acid reflux events but did not result in a significant change in LESP or symptomatic improvement over a 1‐week treatment period.

AbstractBackgroundFunctional GI syndromes are known to be very prevalent, but this may be linked to unrecognized medications use. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of PPI, antidepressant, and narcotic use in the general population, and to evaluate the association between each medication and functional GI syndromes adjusting for potential confounders.MethodsIn 2008 and 2009, newly revised versions of a validated bowel disease questionnaire were mailed to a community‐based cohort (total mailed = 8006) of Olmsted County, MN residents; 3831 returned the questionnaire (response rate = 48.0%). Medication usage, specifically PPIs, narcotics, and antidepressants in the last year, was elicited via three separate questions on the questionnaire. The association between each medication and GI symptom complexes was assessed using multiple variable logistic regression models.Key ResultsA total of 3515 of the respondents (92%) had complete data (mean age: 61 ± 15; 54% female). The overall proportion reporting PPI use was 20% (95% CI: 19, 22), narcotic use 12% (95% CI: 11, 13), and antidepressant use 15% (95% CI: 14, 16). PPI use was significantly associated with IBS status (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.1, 1.7) as well as with GERD (OR = 3.5, 95% CI 2.7, 4.4) and dyspepsia (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.5, 2.7). The association of PPI use with IBS was not explained by coexistent GERD or dyspepsia. Antidepressant use was significantly associated only with bloating (OR = 1.6, 1.1, 2.2).Conclusions & InferencesSome medications that may alter intestinal transit or bowel flora are commonly utilized by the general population, and PPI use appears to be linked to IBS.