The severity of inflammation at onset of ulcerative colitis is not associated with IBS-like symptoms during clinical remission (original) (raw)

Symptoms compatible with Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in clinical remission. It has been suggested that these symptoms might arise due to post-inflammatory changes comparable with post-infectious IBS. The aim was to study factors at new onset of UC that predict development of IBS-like symptoms during clinical remission. In total, 98 patients with new onset of UC were followed prospectively during three years with yearly follow up visits. Data from the first visit at the onset of UC were compared between the group of patients that fulfilled the criteria for IBS while in remission (UCR+IBS) during follow-up and the group that did not (UCR-IBS). Among the UC patients, 87 met the criteria for clinical remission, and 25 (29%) of these reported IBS-like symptoms in remission during follow-up. There was no difference in inflammatory disease activity at the initial flare or prevalence of previous IBS symptoms comparing UCR+IBS and UCR-IB...