Is there any association between irritable bowel syndrome subgroups and autonomous dysfunction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional intestinal disorder. Although there are marked improvements in the conceptualization of IBS pathophysiology in brain-intestinal interaction disorder, there is no definite consensus in the role of autonomic dysfunction (AD) in disease development and symptom progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate autonomous dysfunction in IBS subgroups.

A total of 50 patients and 49 healthy controls were included. IBS subgroup types and demographic characteristics of patients were recorded. AD investigations were made up of parasympathetic and sympathetic tests.

There was no statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in accordance to demographic characteristics such as age, gender, BMI and resting heart rate (p > 0.05). Three parasympathetic and one sympathetic autonomic neuropathy tests were found significantly different (respectively p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.016, p < 0.001, p = 0.375). There were significant decreases in parasympathetic tests in IBS-C patients; however, in the control group, there were significant decreases in sympathetic tests when compared with IBS-D patients (p < 0.001). The severity of AD in IBS-C subgroup was more pronounced than the IBS-D subgroup. No correlation was determined between dysautonomia and disease duration (p > 0.05).

AD may have a role in IBS pathophysiology. Deterioration of the autonomous system not only affects the gastrointestinal system but also other systems including the cardiovascular system. Patients may also be susceptible to more diverse problems.