Symptom patterns can distinguish diverticular disease from irritable bowel syndrome. (2nd September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cuomo, Rosario; Barbara, Giovanni; Andreozzi, Paolo; Bassotti, Gabrio; Casetti, Tino; Grassini, Mario; Ierardi, Enzo; Maconi, Giovanni; Marchi, Santino; Sarnelli, Giovanni; Savarino, Vincenzo; Usai, Paolo; Vozzella, Letizia; Annibale, Bruno
• Is Part Of: European journal of clinical investigation. Volume 43:Number 11(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1147
• Page End: 1155
• Publication Date: 2013-09-02
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Medical research -- Periodicals; 616.075
• DOI: 10.1111/eci.12152
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-2972

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="eci12152-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="eci12152-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Diverticular disease (DD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share a similar symptom pattern. However, comparative studies are flawed by different age at onset of symptoms. We aimed to verify whether clinical features distinguish DD from IBS.</p> </sec> <sec id="eci12152-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Materials and methods</title> <p>Patients with DD or IBS, matched for age and gender (1/1) were consecutively recruited. Data on demographic parameters, voluptuary habits, inheritance of disease and symptoms were collected. Moreover, the association between pain > 24 h, and clinical parameters were evaluated.</p> </sec> <sec id="eci12152-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Ninety patients with DD and 90 patients with IBS (DD: F/M: 46/44; age: 50.9 years; IBS: 46/44; 50.4) were selected from an overall population of 1275 patients. Only nine patients with DD (10%) fulfilled the criteria for IBS diagnosis. Abdominal pain > 24 h was more prevalent in SDD than in patients with IBS (20 vs. 6 patients; <italic>P</italic> < 0·01). Furthermore, compared with IBS, patients with DD showed more episodes of pain > 24 h requiring medical attention (80% vs. 33%; <italic>P</italic> < 0·01).</p> </sec> <sec id="eci12152-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Abdominal pain lasting for more than 24 h discriminates patients with DD compared with those with IBS. Identifying this symptom could be an appropriate strategy to define the diagnosis and management.</p> </sec> </abstract>