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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2014; 20(2): 384-400
Published online Jan 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i2.384
Published online Jan 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i2.384
Is irritable bowel syndrome an organic disorder?
Magdy El-Salhy, Section for Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Stord Helse-Fonna Hospital, 5409 Stord, Norway
Magdy El-Salhy, Odd Helge Gilja, Jan Gunnar Hatlebakk, Trygve Hausken, Section for Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen 5006 Bergen, Norway
Doris Gundersen, Department of Research, Helse-Fonna, 5528 Haugesund, Norway
Author contributions: El-Salhy M collected the literature data and wrote the manuscript; Gundersen D, Gilja OH, Hatlebakk JG and Hausken T contributed equally to discussions about the collected data and commented upon the manuscript; all of the authors approved the submitted version of the manuscript.
Supported by A grant from Helse-Fonna
Correspondence to: Magdy El-Salhy, Professor, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Section for Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Stord Helse-Fonna Hospital, Karmsundgata 120, Box 4000, 5409 Stord, Norway. magdy.el-salhy@helse-fonna.no
Telephone: +47-5-3491000 Fax: +47-5-3491000
Received: September 27, 2013
Revised: November 5, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: January 14, 2014
Revised: November 5, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: January 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: This review presents recent observations in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients that point toward the existence of an anatomical defect in the gastrointestinal endocrine cells. It includes also an argument that IBS is an organic disorder and that the abnormalities in the gastrointestinal endocrine cells can explain the visceral hypersensitivity, dysmotility and abnormal secretion reported in these patients.