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Altered visceral perceptual and neuroendocrine response in patients with irritable bowel syndrome during mental stress
  1. I Posserud1,
  2. P Agerforz1,
  3. R Ekman2,
  4. E S Björnsson1,
  5. H Abrahamsson1,
  6. M Simrén1
  1. 1Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden
  2. 2Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr M Simrén
    Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, 41345 Göteborg, Sweden; magnus.simrenmedicine.gu.se

Abstract

Background and aims: Stress often worsens the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We hypothesised that this might be explained by altered neuroendocrine and visceral sensory responses to stress in IBS patients.

Subjects and methods: Eighteen IBS patients and 22 control subjects were assessed using rectal balloon distensions before, during, and after mental stress. Ten controls and nine patients were studied in supplementary sessions. Rectal sensitivity (thresholds and intensity—visual analogue scale (VAS)) and perceived stress and arousal (VAS) were determined. Plasma levels of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, noradrenaline, and adrenaline were analysed at baseline, immediately after stress, and after the last distension. Heart rate was recorded continuously.

Results: Thresholds were increased during stress in control subjects (p<0.01) but not in IBS patients. Both groups showed lower thresholds after stress (p<0.05). Repeated distensions without stress did not affect thresholds. Both groups showed increased heart rate (p<0.001) and VAS ratings for stress and arousal (p<0.05) during stress. Patients demonstrated higher ratings for stress but lower for arousal than controls. Basal CRF levels were lower in patients (p<0.05) and increased significantly during stress in patients (p<0.01) but not in controls. Patients also responded with higher levels of ACTH during stress (p<0.05) and had higher basal levels of noradrenaline than controls (p<0.01). Controls, but not patients, showed increased levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline in response to stress (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Stress induced exaggeration of the neuroendocrine response and visceral perceptual alterations during and after stress may explain some of the stress related gastrointestinal symptoms in IBS.

  • ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone
  • CRF, corticotropin releasing factor
  • HAD scale, hospital anxiety and depression scale
  • IBS, irritable bowel syndrome
  • IBS-D, diarrhoea predominant irritable bowel syndrome
  • IBS-C, constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome
  • IBS-A, alternating type IBS
  • IQR, interquartile range
  • STAI, Spielberger state trait anxiety inventory
  • VAS, visual analogue scale
  • stress
  • irritable bowel syndrome
  • rectal sensitivity
  • neuroendocrine response

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