Nonconstipation Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Dr. Brooks Cash from the Uniform Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, moderated the topic “Nonconstipation Irritable Bowel Syndrome” with Drs. Lin Chang from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA; Lucinda Harris from Mayo School of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ; and Brian Lacy from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH. The discussion focused primarily on: The prevalence, incidence and impact of nonconstipation irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); the impact of nonconstipation IBS on quality of life and economics; the etiology and pathophysiology of IBS including: the multifactorial aspect of IBS, genetic predisposition to IBS, infections as a trigger and other triggers; healthcare-related costs for IBS, including diagnostic costs for nongastrointestinal-related symptoms; the role of diagnostic tests; the role of diet; pharmacologic options; and the use of complementary and alternative medicine. Med Roundtable Gen Med Ed. 2014;1(4):323–334.