Bowels Behaving Badly BAHSHE Conference

Functional Bowel Disorders Classification and Diagnostic Criteria Epidemiology Pathophysiology Role of psychosocial factors. Diagnosis Treatment recommendations When or if to refer.

Definitions No objective biological markers exist. Spectrum of FGD defined by symptoms in the absence of structural pathology. Manning Criteria Rome I and II

Manning criteria Pain relieved by defaecation Looser stools with pain More frequent stools with pain Abdominal distension Passage of mucus Sensation of incomplete evacuation

Rome II criteria At least 12 weeks or more in preceding 12months of abdominal discomfort or pain with 2 of the following –Relieved by defaecation –Onset associated with change in frequency of stool –Onset associated with change in consistency of stool. Supportive features

Altered stool frequency Altered stool form Altered stool passage (straining, urgency, incomplete evacuation) Passage of mucus Bloating

Prevalence of IBS as judged by Manning Criteria No of symptoms Male Female

Epidemiology Prevalence –14-24% women, 5-19% men Any age but decrease after 60 15% seek medical attention 25-50% of all referrals to gastroenterologists 2 nd highest cause of work absenteeism Direct cost in USA $1.7billion in 2000

Social Impact Social activities restricted Fear of travel Work absenteeism (14.8 days per year v 8.7) Anxiety Extreme lethargy In extreme virtually housebound. Unnecessary surgery

Aetiology Gastrointestinal motility Visceral hypersensitivity Psychological discomfort Emotional distress Post-infectious Post-surgical Food intolerance

Gastrointestinal motility Basal motility is not consistently altered in IBS patients Gastro-colonic response in IBS results in increased duration of rectosigmoid contractions, compared with controls. Stress and anger increase colonic motility in IBS. In general motility studies are inconsistent and the normal range is wide.

Visceral Hypersensitivity Patients with bloating do not have increased quantities of gas in GI tract. Many have lowered tolerance of balloon distension in rectum (and elsewhere). Repetitive stimulation of the sigmoid can induce visceral hyperalgesia in IBS patient but not in controls. Stress and meals increase sigmoid contractions and hence may induce transient hyperalgesia in IBS.

Visceral Hypersensitivity BUT no increased visceral hypersensitivity is found in IBS “non-presenters” Visceral hypersensitivity is also found in patients with other chronic pain syndromes. Recent work involving functional MRI suggests that visceral hypersensitivity probably results from altered CNS processing of sensory information.

Psychosocial Factors IBS patients referred to hospital have an increased prevalence of anxiety, depression, phobias and somatisation. 25% think they have cancer. Increased history of abuse in this group (20- 30%). Non-presenters have same prevalence of these as controls. Psychological distress thus appears to influence experience of IBS rather than cause it.

Stress Acute stress mimicked by CRF infusion –Increased colon motility –Decreased upper gut motility –Induces abdominal pain Chronic stress –>50% link onset to stressful life-event –In one study 60% of patients without chronic stressor improved compared with 0% with.

Postinfectious IBS found in 20-30% after acute bacterial infection RR of IBS after proven infection =14 (nested case-control of 318 pts with bacterial gastroenteritis and 584,308 controls) Risk increased if long duration initial attack, female, younger age.

Possible mechanism Mucosal damage particularly with invasive organisms causing neural injury. Bile-salt malabsorption. Reduced disaccharidase activity. Altered bacterial flora Increased enteroendocrine cells. Unmasked IBD.

Postsurgical Hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, appendicectomy and any other abdomino- pelvic surgery may precipitate IBS. Prospective studies show about 10% develop new bowel symptoms within 6 months, usually constipation predominant IBS.

Mechanisms include Altered bowel flora after antibiotics, Neural damage with subsequent aberrant regeneration. Bile salt diarrhoea. Misdiagnosis of original problem.

Diet Intolerance –30-60% have specific intolerance –Wheat, dairy, potato, corn, coffee, onions, beef, oats, white wine Allergy –Much less common –Asthma, urticaria, angioedema –RAST or pinprick

Diagnosis in General Practice Careful detailed history over time Examination including rectal examination where relevant. If typical features, <45y, no alarm symptoms then make a positive diagnosis –Especially if female, frequent attender, long history. If atypical or short history then screening investigations +/- referral.

When to refer Older patient presenting for first time. Atypical symptoms –Bleeding –Weight loss –Nocturnal symptoms –Anaemia Reassurance in patients with longstanding FGD but with new or worse symptoms.

Diagnosis in Hospital Cannot rely on symptom criteria alone History Examination Tests

History Onset Alarm symptoms Family history Diet Travel Systemic symptoms Drugs Stool characteristics

Examination Disparity between well looking patient and desperate symptoms. Signs of systemic illness eg thyroid Abdominal mass Rectal examination, sphincter tone.

Investigations FBC, ESR, CRP TFTs Stool microbiology Sigmoidoscopy and biopsy Hydrogen breath test

Using these tests 1452 IBS patients in US study –6% thyroid disease –1% occult IBD –20% lactose intolerance Other logical screening tests include –Anti-endomysial antibodies –Albumin –Calcium

Further tests Colonoscopy if>45y or FH Barium enema Barium follow through Ultrasound rarely helpful

Treatment of IBS General principles Therapeutic relationship Patient education Dietary modification Psychological approaches Simple drugs Complicated drugs

General Principles No known cure but “benign disease” Focus on symptom relief Alleviate concerns Simple explanation Consider hidden agenda Identify exacerbating factors Identify psychiatric comorbidity

Dietary Modification Fibre Lactose avoidance Avoidance of foods that increase flatulence –Beans, onions, carrots, sprouts, prunes etc Modified exclusion diet ( eg as per Hunter), >50% remission in 2 studies.

Modified Exclusion Diet Meat Fish Fruit (not citrus) Vegetables (not sweetcorn, onion, potato) Rice

Psychological Therapies Relaxation Biofeedback Hypnotherapy Cognitive Behavioural therapy. Psychiatry

Simple Drugs –symptom based Antispasmodics –Antimuscarinics- dicyclomine, hyoscine –Others- alverine, mebeverine, peppermint –Meta-analysis of 23 controlled trials found a small but significant benefit (53 v 41%) –Mebeverine failed to show improvement in pain but did result in global improvement. –Dicyclomine was best for pain.

Simple Drugs Loperamide Codeine Cholestyramine Laxatives

Antidepressants Several trials show benefit of low and high dose antidepressants. Tricyclics can normalise rapid transit times and modify visceral sensation. SSRIs can accelerate transit

New Drugs 5HT3 antagonists decrease diarrhoea 5HT4 antagonists decrease constipation Alosetron reduced diarrhoea in females with IBS. Tegaserod 5HT4 partial agonist, decrease colonic transit time.

Prognosis Incidence of new significant diagnosis is low –One study 0/104 at 5y –Another 3/112 at 5yrs (1 ca pancreas, 1 thyrotoxicosis, 1 gallstones) Symptoms persist in 30-95% in various studies.

Treatment Summary Positive Diagnosis Listen Explain and Reassure Dietary Advice Psychological considerations and treatment Pharmacological Treatment