[Functional abnormality of the digestive tract and the gall bladder in irritable bowel syndrome]

Functional abnormalities of the digestive tract and the gallbladder in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are described in this review. In addition to colonic abnormalities, disordered oesophageal motility, abnormal gastric emptying, abnormalities in small intestinal motility and abnormal gall bladder function have been demonstrated in IBS. Urodynamic abnormalities and bronchial hyperreactivity also have been reported in patients with IBS. Such extensive involvement of the organs suggests that IBS can be a generalized abnormality of the smooth muscle of even the whole body as well as the whole digestive tract. Further detailed investigation is needed to clarify this possibility.