EDS... Central autonomic dysregulation in IBS patients

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Nice article.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed &

list_uids=12184520 & dopt=Abstract

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Evidence for autonomic dysregulation in the irritable bowel syndrome.

Gupta V, Sheffield D, Verne GN.

Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32608-1197, USA.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder

characterized by chronic abdominal pain and visceral hypersensitivity. In this

study,

resting blood pressure and heart rate were recorded in 20 IBS patients and 23

controls. We assessed pain intensity and unpleasantness to visceral and

cutaneous stimuli using rectal distension and immersion of the foot in hot

water.

Mean resting heart rate was higher in IBS patients compared to controls. IBS

patients rated pain intensity and unpleasantness to visceral and cutaneous

stimuli significantly higher than controls. In IBS patients, blood pressure was

significantly inversely associated with visceral pain and only weakly and

positively associated with cutaneous pain; there were no relationships in

controls.

Sex and anxiety did not explain these relationships. In conclusion, we found

evidence suggestive of central autonomic dysregulation in IBS patients.