JLE

Hépato-Gastro & Oncologie Digestive

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Impaired intestinal barrier integrity in irritable bowel syndrome patients Volume 16, issue 4, juillet-août 2009

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Authors
Service de gastroentérologie et de nutrition clinique, pôle digestif, hôpital de l’Archet-II, CHU de Nice, 151, route Saint-Antoine-de-Ginestière, 06202 Nice cedex 03, France, Laboratoire d’immunologie et Inserm 576, hôpital de l’Archet-I, CHU de Nice, 4, avenue Reine-Victoria, BP 1179, 06003 Nice cedex 01, France, Laboratoire d’anatomopathologie, hôpital Pasteur, CHU de Nice, 4, avenue Reine-Victoria, BP 1179, 06003 Nice cedex 01, France, Service de chirurgie digestive et de transplantation hépatique, pôle digestif, hôpital de l’Archet-II, CHU de Nice, 4, avenue Reine-Victoria, BP 1179, 06003 Nice cedex 01, France

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the main motive for consultation in gastroenterology. Physiopathology of the functional symptoms is not yet understood, but research in the last ten years has identified activation of mucosal immunity and changes in intestinal permeability as potential triggers of the motor disorders, visceral hypersensitivity and abdominal pain typical of the syndrome. Genetic susceptibility and environmental factors such as stress, digestive infections and food allergy could aggravate or maintain these disorders. This new understanding of the physiology of IBS may pave the way for the development of new drugs.