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[Gallbladder contractility in children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome]

Franciszek Iwańczak1, Jolanta Siedlecka-Dawidko, Barbara Iwanczak

  • 1Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Piastów Slaskich we Wrocławiu, II Katedra i Klinika Pediatrii, Gastroenterologii i Zywienia.

Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski : Organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego
|August 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Gallbladder issues like thickened walls and impaired contractility are more common in children with functional abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome. These findings suggest a link between gallbladder function and these common pediatric gastrointestinal disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional abdominal pain (FAP), are common. The III Rome Criteria categorize these conditions, highlighting the need to understand underlying mechanisms.
  • The role of gallbladder function in pediatric FGIDs has not been extensively studied, necessitating further investigation into potential anatomical and functional abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess gallbladder anatomy and contractility using sonography in children diagnosed with functional abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome.
  • To compare gallbladder function in children with FAP and IBS against a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasound examinations were performed on 96 children (aged 6-18 years), divided into three groups: FAP (38), IBS (26), and healthy controls (32).
  • Gallbladder parameters assessed included septum presence, wall thickness, bile thickness, fasting vesicle volume, and contractility at 30 and 60 minutes post-test meal.
  • Children with gallstones or organic diseases were excluded to focus on functional aspects.

Main Results:

  • Children with IBS and FAP showed a higher prevalence of thickened gallbladder walls and thick bile compared to controls (p < 0.02).
  • Fasting gallbladder volume was significantly larger in the FAP group than in the IBS and control groups (p = 0.003, p = 0.05).
  • Gallbladder contractility after a test meal was most pronounced in the FAP group, with both IBS and FAP groups exhibiting disturbances in contractility (diminished or enlarged response).

Conclusions:

  • The study demonstrated abnormalities in gallbladder anatomy, fasting volume, and post-meal contractility in children with FAP and IBS.
  • These gallbladder disturbances warrant further research to elucidate their specific role in the pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders presenting with abdominal pain in children.
Abstract

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