Abnormal duodenal loop in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

The frequency of an abnormal duodenal loop (AD) was investigated in 36 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and in a sex- and age-matched control group of patients with Crohn's disease. The frequency was significantly higher in the patients with IBS than in the control group (41% versus 18%; p less than 0.02). Among IBS patients with AD, the frequency of food-provoked pain was higher than in IBS patients with a normal duodenum (65% versus 21%; p less than 0.01). We conclude that AD may be one of the reasons for complaints in IBS.