Table 1

Baseline characteristics of study subjects

HVIBSHypersensitiveNormosensitive
AllPlaceboKetotifenPlaceboKetotifen
N226015151515
M:F7:15
(68% F)
17:43
(72% F)
3:12
(80%F)
5:10
(67%F)
5:10
(67%F)
4:11
(73%F)
Age (years)
Range
30±3
20–61
36±2
19–65
34±3
20–53
34±3
19–61
40±3
21–65
35±3
19–58
IBS-C, n (%)9 (15)3 (13)2 (13)2 (13)2 (13)
IBS-D, n (%)22 (37)5 (33)5 (33)6 (40)6 (40)
IBS-A, n (%)29 (48)7 (47)8 (53)7 (47)7 (47)
Duration of symptoms (years)
Range
7±1
0.3–27
7±2
1.0–20
8±2
0.3–27
6±2
0.4–20
5±1
1.0–22
Smoker, n (%)4 (24)15 (28)6 (46)3 (27)3 (21)3 (20)
Allergy, n (%)5 (29)20 (36)8 (53)4 (33)3 (21)5 (33)
Complaints associated with food intake44 (75)13 (87)10 (67)9 (60)12 (86)
Complaints associated with stress34 (59)7 (50)8 (53)8 (53)11 (79)
  • Data shown are mean±SEM or n (%).

  • IBS-D, diarrhoea-dominant irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-C, constipation-dominant irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-A, alternating constipation diarrhoea irritable bowel syndrome; HV, healthy volunteers.