TY - JOUR T1 - Role of visceral sensitivity in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome JF - Gut JO - Gut SP - i67 LP - i71 DO - 10.1136/gut.51.suppl_1.i67 VL - 51 IS - suppl 1 AU - M Delvaux Y1 - 2002/07/01 UR - http://gut.bmj.com/content/51/suppl_1/i67.abstract N2 - Visceral hypersensitivity has been recognised as a characteristic of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It may be involved in the pathogenesis of abdominal pain/discomfort, and seems to result from the sensitisation of nerve afferent pathways originating from the gastrointestinal tract. From a clinical point of view, hypersensitivity, although frequent, is not a constant finding among patients with IBS and cannot therefore be considered as a diagnostic marker of the condition. The advances made in understanding visceral hypersensitivity in patients with IBS are reviewed: the factors that influence abdominal distension are defined and different therapeutic perspectives are examined. ER -