Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
10:37
Perturbations of Circulating miRNAs in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Detected Using a Multiplexed High-throughput Gene Expression Platform
Published on: November 30, 2016
Symptomatic overlap between microscopic colitis and irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective study
Rami Abboud1, Darrell S Pardi, William J Tremaine
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
|February 6, 2013
Summary
Many patients with microscopic colitis meet diagnostic criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This suggests IBS criteria alone are insufficient for diagnosing microscopic colitis, necessitating further investigation for watery diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Internal Medicine
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Microscopic colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are frequent causes of watery diarrhea and abdominal discomfort.
- Existing research indicates significant symptom overlap between microscopic colitis and IBS.
- A prospective study was designed to investigate this overlap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate the overlap between microscopic colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) diagnostic criteria.
- To determine the proportion of microscopic colitis patients meeting IBS criteria.
- To compare clinical characteristics of patients with and without IBS criteria.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort of 120 patients with biopsy-proven microscopic colitis was studied.
- Patients completed a symptom questionnaire to assess Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) diagnostic criteria.
- Clinical characteristics were compared between patients meeting and not meeting IBS criteria.
Main Results:
- Between 38% and 58% of microscopic colitis patients met Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) diagnostic criteria.
- Patients meeting IBS criteria were generally younger and more frequently female.
- This highlights a substantial overlap in symptom presentation.
Conclusions:
- Microscopic colitis patients frequently fulfill Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) diagnostic criteria.
- IBS criteria are not specific enough to rule out microscopic colitis.
- Colonoscopy with biopsies is recommended for unexplained watery diarrhea unresponsive to treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Irritable Bowel Syndrome
DefinitionIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent combinations of abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.Pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndromeIts pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving disturbances in motility, sensory processing, microbial balance, barrier integrity, and gut–brain communication. These mechanisms interact to produce symptoms that vary across IBS subtypes.Altered Motility PatternsDisordered...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by functional disturbances in the gastrointestinal system, presenting a cluster of symptoms without evident structural or biochemical abnormalities. It primarily affects the large intestine and may cause abdominal pain, bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, constipation, or both.
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of chronic disorders marked by recurrent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract due to an abnormal immune response against gut microflora. This leads to tissue damage. The two main forms are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.Crohn’s DiseaseCrohn’s disease is a relapsing inflammatory disorder that can affect any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus. It involves all layers of the bowel wall (transmural) and shows “skip lesions” in which...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two major chronic disorders—ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease—each characterized by relapsing episodes of gastrointestinal inflammation. Although they share certain clinical features, their patterns of involvement and manifestations differ in ways that aid diagnosis and guide management.Ulcerative ColitisUlcerative colitis is limited to the colon and rectum and involves continuous inflammation of the mucosal layer. The disease course is marked...