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07:33
A Mouse Model of Intestinal Partial Obstruction
Published on: March 5, 2018
Sympathetic nerve dysfunction is common in patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
Tomas Mattsson1, Robert Roos, Göran Sundkvist
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Gastroenterology Division, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden.
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
|January 23, 2008
Summary
Patients with intestinal pseudo-obstruction have impaired sympathetic nerve function, but this does not explain their heat regulation symptoms. Further research is needed to understand these complex gastrointestinal and autonomic nervous system connections.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Autonomic Neurology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) presents with gastrointestinal symptoms due to enteric nervous system or smooth muscle damage.
- Patients with CIPO often report altered body temperature sensations, suggesting autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction.
- Previous research indicates a link between autonomic disturbances in the gut and the cardiovascular system in CIPO patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if abnormal cardiovascular reflexes, indicative of ANS disturbances, correlate with impaired heat regulation symptoms in CIPO patients.
- To determine the relationship between sympathetic nerve function and thermoregulation issues in individuals with CIPO.
Main Methods:
- Investigated 13 CIPO patients (mean age 44) with varying heat regulation complaints.
- Assessed autonomic reflexes: heart rate variability (expiration/inspiration index), tilt response (acceleration/brake indices), and laser Doppler-measured vasoconstriction (VAC-index).
- Compared patient results to those of healthy controls.
Main Results:
- CIPO patients exhibited significantly impaired vasoconstriction (higher VAC-index) compared to healthy controls (P=0.0007).
- No significant differences were observed in heart rate variation or tilt response indices between patients and controls.
- Impaired heat regulation symptoms in patients were not statistically associated with the abnormal vasoconstriction response.
Conclusions:
- Patients with severe gastrointestinal dysmotility demonstrate impaired sympathetic nerve function.
- This sympathetic dysfunction does not appear to be the cause of the reported symptoms of impaired heat regulation in CIPO patients.
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