Background: IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME(IBS) is a common GI complaint. Since there exist some controversies with reference books regarding the clinical and pathological findings, the present study was conducted to determine the clinical, paraclinical and pathologic findings of IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME in a group of patients. Materials and methods: For this descriptive study, 80 patients who had been diagnosed as IBS according to the ROME criteria were selected. Other diseases were excluded by complementary studies. Colonoscopy and barium enema was performed and multiple biopsies were obtained. Results: The study population included 42 males and 38 females with the mean age of 26.5:!:7 years. The most common chief complaints were flatulence, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Pathologic findings were revealed in 77 cases (96.3%). Conclusion: High prevalence of pathologic changes is a unique finding in our patients. Further studies regarding the diagnostic modalities and proper treatment are suggested.

Background: IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS) is a very common disorder. Some researches have pointed to an interaction between psychiatric disorders and IBS. Present study aimed to determine psychiatric disorders in patients with IBS compared to normal controls among an Iranian population.Materials and Methods: All freshmen students (n=3012) of Tehran University invited to the study at 2001. A trained general practitioner interviewed the entire students for IBS based on Rome II criteria. A gastroenterologist visited the students who had Rome II criteria and ordered laboratory exams that are necessary for ruling out organic diseases. After confirming IBS patients, a matched control group by sex and age was selected. A psychologist who was blind to IBS diagnosis interviewed all cases and controls using a reliable 28- items General Heath Questionnaire. Chi-Square analysis used to compare psychiatric disorders in the cases and controls. P-value less than 0.05 determined as significant.Results: A total of 3008 students (female; 1785, male; 1223) participated to the study and 143 had Rome II criteria for IBS (4.7%, 95% CI 4-5.6%).Finally 46 (female; 31) with IBS and 97 (female; 62) controls underwent psychologic interview.Somatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, social dysfunction and mental disorder were reported by 41.3%, 34.8%, 15.2%, 43.5% and 41.3% respectively in IBS patients and 14.4%, 14.4%, 5.2%, 21.6% and 13.4% among control group respectively. All psychiatric disordoers were significantly more common among IBS patients than controls.Conclusions: Mental health in IBS patients is impaired. This fact could be primary or secondary. Control of psychiatric disorders may improve IBS symptoms.

Background and Objectives: IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders with the prevalence of 10-20% of the world’s population. This SYNDROME usually manifests as abdominal pain or discomfort associated with altered BOWEL habits, and it is usually diagnosed based on patient’s history and there is no specific diagnostic test for it. However, it should be noted that definitive diagnosis is made after ruling out other organic diseases. The most common clinical manifestations are abdominal pain or discomfort, constipation, diarra or alternating constipation and diarrhea, and abdominal bloating. Various mechanisms have been described for pathogenesis of this disorder, including motor dysfunction, visceral hypersensitivity, mild inflammation, and stress. Genetic factors seem to be involved in inflammation and regional immune responses and subsequently, susceptibility to IBS. But it seems that several factors are involved in the presentation of IBS symptoms. Although most patients do not refer for medical care, the disease imposes a considerable cost on patient and healthcare system and considerably overshadows the subject’s quality of life. Having knowledge about the precise pathophysiology and diagnostic criteria are necessary for better identification of patients and choosing a more appropriate treatment approach.

Background and Objective: Stress has been known as an important causative factor in IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME. Various studies have indicated the relationship between serum leptin levels and stress levels. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between serum leptin levels with IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME.Materials and Methods: In This case-control study, eighty IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME patients and 80 controls were recruited. All participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire included demographic information and medical history as well as a stress questionnaire. Serum leptin level was measured by ELISA method. Chi-square, student t-test, pearson correlation and logistic regression were used for investigating the relationships between variables.Results: Participants in IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME group had significantly higher stress levels than controls (p<0.05). In the other hand, Serum leptin levels were significantly lower in IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME group than the other one (p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment of stress level and body mass index, serum leptin level was still significantly lower in IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME group (Odds ratio=0.9; CI95%: 0.85-0.94). Conclusion: The present study indicated that there is a relationship between leptin and IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME and serum leptin level is significantly lower in IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME group than controls. This relationship is independent of other variables such as stress levels, BMI.