The Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Atopic Manifestations in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in a Brazilian Urban Community

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, bowel movement changes, diarrhea, constipation, or both and affect approximately 10-20% of the general population. Today, IBS is considered a disorder of dysregulation of the so called brain-gut axis and evidence also suggests that gastrointestinal inflammation may be of great importance in the majority of cases of IBS. In addition to gastrointestinal symptoms, many patients have atopic symptoms. The aim of this study was to study the prevalence of atopic manifestations in volunteers with IBS in a Brazilian urban community. Volunteers over 18 years of age were enrolled and evaluated. The participants were evaluated by a gastroenterologist of the Group of Study of Intestinal Diseases at Hospital Universitario Antonio Pedro. All volunteers were evaluated to determine if patients had symptoms compatible with the diagnosis of IBS based on Rome III criteria. The identification of the atopic manifestations was based in a structured questionnaire for atopy. Three hundred and fifty volunteers were enrolled. Of them, 330 volunteers were evaluated: 78 (23.6%) of the volunteers had symptoms compatible with IBS (Group I) and 252 (76.3%) without symptoms compatible with IBS (Group II). Atopic manifestations were present in 46 (65.3%) in Group I and 105 (41. 0%) in Group II (P=0.0107, OR-2.01 95%CI -1. 20-3. 37). The association between atopic manifestations and the presence of IBS was relevant in patients in this Brazilian urban community. This fact may have implications for diagnosis and treatment of patients with IBS.