Editorial:Fecal Granins in IBS: Cause or Indicator of... : Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology | ACG (original) (raw)

Functional GI Disorders

Editorial: Fecal Granins in IBS: Cause or Indicator of Intestinal or Colonic Irritation?

1 Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational and Epidemiological Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Correspondence: Michael Camilleri, MD, Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational, and Epidemiological Research, Mayo Clinic, Charlton 8–110, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Received 11 November 2011; accepted 30 November 2011

Abstract

Ohman et al. report increased fecal granins in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Several interesting questions arise from their observations. Are the granins a cause of the pathophysiology or phenotype in IBS? Is the elevation of granins specific to IBS? What is the cause of increased fecal granin levels? Can fecal granin levels be used to diagnose IBS? Are increased fecal granins an expression of intestinal or colonic irritation? This paper adds to the body of evidence suggesting there are gastrointestinal disturbances in IBS; understanding these disturbances may provide clues to its pathogenesis and optimize management.