Patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have elevated serotonin concentrations in colonic mucosa as compared with diarrhea-predominant patients and subjects with normal bowel habits

Authors
Miwa, J Echizen, H Matsueda, K Umeda, N
Citation
J. Miwa et al., Patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have elevated serotonin concentrations in colonic mucosa as compared with diarrhea-predominant patients and subjects with normal bowel habits, DIGESTION, 63(3), 2001, pp. 188-194
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Gastroenerology and Hepatology","da verificare
Journal title
DIGESTION
ISSN journal
00122823 → ACNP
Volume
63
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
188 - 194
Database
ISI
SICI code
0012-2823(2001)63:3<188:PWCIBS>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
Background: Serotonin (5-HT) may play an important role in the regulation o f colonic motility in humans. However, it is not known whether alterations in the colonic 5-HT system are involved in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome IBS. Methods: Colonic mucosal specimens ranging from the as cending colon to the rectum were obtained from patients with diarrhea- or c onstipation-predominant IBS (n = 7 and n = 8, respectively) and from subjec ts with normal bower habits (n = 7) by endoscopic biopsy in order to determ ine whether patients with different clinical manifestations of IBS have dif ferent mucosal disposition of 5-HT. The tissue concentrations of 5-HT and i ts major metabolite, 5-hydroxyin-doleacetic acid, were determined by revers ed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection . Results: in all study groups, the mean mucosal 5-HT concentrations obtain ed from the rectum were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those obtained from more cephalic regions of the colon. In addition, the overall mean muc osal 5-HT concentrations obtained from patients with constipation-predomina nt IBS were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those obtained from the co ntrol subjects and patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS. No significant d ifferences were observed in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations among the three groups. Conclusions: The mucosal 5-HT concentrations in the colo n showed an ascending cephalocaudal gradient in all study groups. Although the mucosal 5-HT concentrations were elevated in patients with constipation -predominant IBS as com pa red with those with diarrhea-predominant IBS and the control subjects, further stud ies a re necessary to determine whether the elevated mucosal 5-HT is a cause or a result of abnormal colonic motil ity. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.