Iovino P, Bucci C, Tremolaterra F, Santonicola A, Chiarioni G. Bloating and functional gastro-intestinal disorders: Where are we and where are we going? World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20(39): 14407-14419 [PMID: 25339827 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i39.14407]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Paola Iovino, MD, Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Via S Allende, 84081 Baronissi-Salerno, Italy. piovino@unisa.it
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2014; 20(39): 14407-14419 Published online Oct 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i39.14407
Bloating and functional gastro-intestinal disorders: Where are we and where are we going?
Paola Iovino, Cristina Bucci, Fabrizio Tremolaterra, Antonella Santonicola, Giuseppe Chiarioni
Paola Iovino, Cristina Bucci, Antonella Santonicola, Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy
Fabrizio Tremolaterra, IRCCS, Centro di riferimento Oncologico di Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Giuseppe Chiarioni, Division of Gastroenterology of the University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy
Giuseppe Chiarioni, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Center for functional GI and Motility Disorders, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
Author contributions: Iovino P contributed to conception and design of the study, analysis and interpretation of data, revising of the article critically for important intellectual content and final approval of the version to be published; Bucci C contributed to conception and design of the study, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of the article and final approval of the version to be published; Tremolaterra F and Santonicola A contributed to acquisition of interpretation, drafting of the article and final approval of the version to be published; Chiarioni G contributed to conception and study design, revising of the article critically for important intellectual content and final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Paola Iovino, MD, Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Via S Allende, 84081 Baronissi-Salerno, Italy. piovino@unisa.it
Telephone: +39-89-965030 Fax: +39-89-672452
Received: February 13, 2014 Revised: April 7, 2014 Accepted: June 13, 2014 Published online: October 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Bloating is one of the most common and bothersome symptoms complained by a large proportion of patients, mostly with functional gastrointestinal disorders, but when bloating is not part of another functional bowel or gastrointestinal disorder it is included as an independent entity in Rome III criteria named functional bloating. Despite its clinical, social and economic relevance, bloating lacks a clear pathophysiology explanation and an effective management endorsement. Moreover, it is unclear to what extent subjective complaint of bloating correlates with the objective evidence of abdominal distension. The aim of this paper is to review the latest knowledge on bloating and to explore future research directions to improve its management.
