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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2014; 20(27): 8807-8820
Published online Jul 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.8807
Published online Jul 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.8807
Irritable bowel syndrome: A disease still searching for pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy
Massimo Bellini, Dario Gambaccini, Maria Teresa Urbano, Santino Marchi, Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Cristina Stasi, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Cristina Stasi, Epidemiological Observatory, Health Agency of Tuscany, 50141 Florence, Italy
Paolo Usai-Satta, Gastrointestinal Unit, P. Brotzu Hospital, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Author contributions: Bellini M contributed to the conception and design of the study and wrote the manuscript; Gambaccini D and Urbano MT contributed to the conception of the study and wrote the manuscript; Stasi C contributed to the conception of the study and revised the manuscript; Marchi S revised the manuscript; Usai-Satta P contributed to the study design and wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Massimo Bellini, MD, PhD, Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, University of Pisa, via Paradisa n 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy. mbellini@med.unipi.it
Telephone: +39-50-997448 Fax: +39-50-997368
Received: October 22, 2013
Revised: January 21, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: July 21, 2014
Revised: January 21, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: July 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not definitely known and many fundamental questions remain unanswered about its pathophysiology, diagnosis and therapy. Conflicting results reflect the largely overlapping data of healthy controls and the wide heterogeneity of the IBS patients. This review summarises the main pathophysiological aspects, practical diagnostic approaches and therapeutic management strategies for patients with symptoms possibly related to IBS, in addition to pointing out some controversial issues and pointing out the strengths and the weaknesses of our current knowledge.