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Gut Pathogens
Published in: Gut Pathogens 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Review

Current insights in to the pathophysiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Authors: Theodoros Karantanos, Theofano Markoutsaki, Maria Gazouli, Nicholas P Anagnou, Dimitrios G Karamanolis

Published in: Gut Pathogens | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) represents a functional disorder of gastrointestinal tract without the presence of an anatomic defect, in which abdominal pain is relieved with defecation and is associated with altered bowel habits.
IBS includes a wide range of symptoms while its pathophysiology is very complicated. Recent studies indicate that the most important mechanisms include visceral sensitivity, abnormal gut motility and autonomous nervous system dysfunction. The interactions between these three mechanisms make bowel's function susceptible to many exogenous and endogenous factors like gastrointestinal flora, feeding and psychosocial factors. Recent data indicate that according to the above mechanisms, the influence of genetic factors and polymorphisms of human DNA in the development of IBS is equally important.
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Metadata
Title
Current insights in to the pathophysiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors
Theodoros Karantanos
Theofano Markoutsaki
Maria Gazouli
Nicholas P Anagnou
Dimitrios G Karamanolis
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Gut Pathogens / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1757-4749
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-4749-2-3

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