SCIENCE OF IBS

IBS has many
contributing factors

MOA for IBS
ROME V CRITERIA
Bristol Stool Form Scale

IBS is a disorder of the brain-gut axis and has long been considered to have a multifactorial pathophysiology, with a complex array of contributing factors1-4

Abnormal Sensory Processing

PSYCHOLOGICAL disturbances

GI motor disturbances

Visceral HYPERSENSITIVITY

immune dysfunction

serotonin LEVELS

intestinal permeability

altered microbiota

The Mechanism for Abdominal Pain in IBS5-7

VISCERAL HYPERSENSITIVITY AND ALTERED CORTICAL PERCEPTION IN IBS5-7

Transcript

IBS is thought to be associated with visceral hypersensitivity and pain caused by hyperactivity of colonic pain fibers located in the submucosa of the gut. These fibers signal to the pain-sensing regions of the brain, causing a disconnect between brain-gut communication that results in the brain perceiving gut signals more strongly than usual and sending signals to the gut that disturb intestinal functioning.5-7

IBS TRIGGERS

The visceral hypersensitivity, altered cortical perception, and abnormal gut motility associated with IBS can be triggered by numerous other factors, including certain foods, chronic stress, lack of sleep, menstrual cycle, and pregnancy.1-4

Help patients understand
IBS pathophysiology

ROME V IBS CRITERIA8

Recurrent, but not continuous, abdominal pain or discomfort on average at least 3 days per month associated with 2 or more of the following:*

  1. Defecation
  2. A change in stool frequency
  3. A change in stool form

Rome Clinical Considerations

The Rome Foundation suggests for clinical practice, a diagnosis may be made with a lower symptom frequency and a shorter duration (8 weeks or more) than those required above, provided that symptoms are bothersome for the patient (i.e., interfering with daily activities/quality of life) and there is clinical confidence that other diagnoses have been sufficiently ruled out.

ROME V IBS-C SUBTYPE CRITERIA8

  • Abdominal pain related to defecation
  • >25% Bristol stool type 1 or 2
  • <25% Bristol stool type 6 or 7

ROME V IBS-D SUBTYPE CRITERIA8

  • Abdominal pain related to defecation
  • >25% Bristol stool type 6 or 7
  • <25% Bristol stool type 1 or 2

*Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months before diagnosis.

Bristol Stool Form Scale

Adapted with permission from © 2006 Rome Foundation.

DOWNLOAD THE BSFS

Downloadable Resources for You and Your Patients

An open dialogue focused on understanding the patient’s most bothersome symptoms may help reduce treatment delays and improve treatment expectations. The resources here are designed to help start the conversation and help with patient education and treatment management.

EXPLORE ALL RESOURCES
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Burden of IBS
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Impact of IBS-C

BSFS=Bristol Stool Form Scale; GI=gastrointestinal; IBS=irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-C=irritable bowel syndrome with constipation; IBS-D=irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea; MOA=mechanism of action.

References: 1. Chey WD et al. JAMA. 2015;313(9):949-958. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.0954 2. Drossman DA. Gastroenterology. 2016;150:1262-1279. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02 3. Holtmann G et al. Dig Dis. 2017;35:5-13. doi:10.1159/000485409 4. Radovanovic-Dinic B et al. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2018;162(1):1-9. doi:10.5507/bp.2017.057 5. Kim SY et al. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2018;24(4):544-558. doi:10.5056/jnm18082 6. Saha L. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(22):6759-6773. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759 7. Quigley EMM. J Clin Med. 2018;7(6):1-8. doi:10.3390/jcm7010006 8. Corsetti M, Shin A, Lacy BE, et al. Bowel disorders. Gastroenterology. 2026;170:1261-1282