A Combined Nutrient and Lactulose Challenge Test Allows Symptom-Based Clustering of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the usefulness of a test meal containing lactulose in the non-invasive assessment of visceral sensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to identify subsets of IBS patients based on gastrointestinal (GI) symptom generation. METHODS: We included 43 patients with IBS (Rome III) and 29 healthy controls. The fasted subjects were served three test meals consisting of a 400-ml liquid breakfast alone or containing lactulose (15 or 25g) in a double-blind crossover design. Seven GI symptoms, overall digestive comfort, and exhaled H2/CH4 were assessed at baseline and every 15min during 4h after meal intake. Anxiety and depression were assessed only at baseline. A mapping of the seven GI symptoms was done using a Principal Component Analysis (4h mean area under the curve, AUC). Independently, a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed on the same parameters to identify GI symptom-based IBS clusters. RESULTS: All three tests were well tolerated. The 25g lactulose challenge enabled discrimination of IBS from healthy controls according to the symptom response. This challenge also enabled clustering of IBS subjects in two subgroups based mainly on bloating, distension, and discomfort symptoms (2,457 (2,043–2,872), 2,450 (1,910–2,990), 2,602 (2,126–3,079) vs. 537 (383–691), 619 (458–780), 643 (432–854); 4h mean AUC; P<0.0001), overall digestive comfort (1807 (1318–2295) vs. 3350 (2942–3758); 4h mean AUC; P<0.0001), and anxiety at baseline (9.2 (7.0–11.5) vs. 5.5 (4.2–6.9); Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale anxiety mean scores; P=0.003). This clustering was independent of the Rome III subtype and the amount of exhaled H2/CH4. CONCLUSIONS: The lactulose challenge test seems to be a promising tool to assess visceral sensitivity in IBS, and to subgroup IBS patients based on their symptom pattern.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Gastroenterologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Gastroenterology and Hepatology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

gastrointestinal-specific anxiety

intestinal bacterial overgrowth

visceral sensitivity index

quality-of-life

brain-gut axis

ulcerative-colitis

fecal microbiota

abdominal-pain

double-blind

disorders

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)