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Current Gastroenterology Reports
Published in: Current Gastroenterology Reports 4/2010

01-08-2010

Mechanisms of Diarrhea

Author: Christina M. Surawicz

Published in: Current Gastroenterology Reports | Issue 4/2010

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Abstract

Diarrhea is a symptom common to a wide variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, and is an important public health challenge in underdeveloped regions of the world. Normal intestinal absorption is a complex process. Recent research offers new insights into normal physiology and pathophysiology. The role of the enteric nervous system and neurotransmitters in the pathogenesis of diarrhea in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is being actively investigated. In patients with IBD, ileal and sigmoid biopsies showed altered transepithelial sodium and fluid transport, specifically from decreased expression of the NHE3, NHERF-1, and NHE1 epithelial Na channel. This results in changes in normal intestinal electroneutral NaCl absorption and may be an additional factor contributing to the diarrhea in patients with IBD. Physiologic studies in humans suggest that primary bile acid malabsorption may be caused by an abnormal feedback system resulting in the increased bile salts, which may explain the watery diarrhea. Finally, the role of zinc in treatment of infectious diarrhea led to studies of its effect on intracellular human enterocyte ion secretion. Understanding such basic mechanisms may lead to better and novel therapies for treatment of diarrhea.
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Metadata
Title
Mechanisms of Diarrhea
Author
Christina M. Surawicz
Publication date
01-08-2010
Publisher
Current Science Inc.
Published in
Current Gastroenterology Reports / Issue 4/2010
Print ISSN: 1522-8037
Electronic ISSN: 1534-312X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-010-0113-4

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