Normal colonic transit time predicts the outcome of colonic manometry in patients with chronic constipation-an exploratory study.

PURPOSE: Colonic manometry (CM) can be of additive value in the diagnostic workup of colonic motility in chronic constipated patients. However, it is claimed that colonic motor disturbances occur in normal-transit constipation (NTC) and slow-transit (STC) constipation, as measured using a radio-opaque marker study, and therefore, the relationship between colonic motor disturbances on CM and colonic transit time (CTT) remains unclear. Our aim was to compare results from colonic marker study with the outcome of CM in patients with treatment-refractory chronic constipation (CC). METHOD: Eighty-seven CC patients and 12 healthy volunteers, undergoing both a CTT study and a 24-h CM in a Dutch tertiary referral center, were included. CTT was measured using radio-opaque markers (X-ray at day 4 after ingestion of 20 markers at day 0). CM was performed using a catheter with 6 solid-state pressure sensors, endoscopically clipped to the mucosa in the right colon. CM was defined as normal when at least three high-amplitude propagating contractions (HAPCs), i.e., propagating waves with amplitude ≥ 80 mmHg over at least three sensors, were identified. RESULTS: In total, 70 patients showed STC on CTT, of which 21 (30%) showed normal CM. All 17 NTC patients and healthy volunteers showed normal CM. The negative predictive value of CTT for normal CM was 100%. CONCLUSION: Colonic manometry should be considered in therapy-refractory STC patients in order to further delineate colonic motility. However, in this exploratory study, for patients presenting with NTC on a radio-opaque marker study, colonic manometry does not appear to have added value.

Colorectal motor and sensory function after hysterectomy.

PURPOSE: Women may develop constipation after hysterectomy. The pathophysiology and underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. They may originate from either neural damage of rectum and colon or changes in anatomical constellation of the remaining pelvic organs. The aim of this study is to evaluate sensory and motor functions of rectum and colon in women with newly developed constipation after hysterectomy in comparison with women without constipation and healthy controls after hysterectomy . METHODS: Barostat measurements were performed in posthysterectomy women with constipation (PH-C), without constipation (PH-NC), and healthy controls (n = 10, every group). Outcome measures were rectal and colonic compliance (millilitre per millimetre of mercury), rectocolonic perception in reaction to mechanical distension (millimetre; VAS scores) and rectocolonic reflex (millilitre per millimetre of mercury). RESULTS: No differences in rectal or colonic compliance were observed. Urge perception due to rectal distension increased significantly in controls (from 7 ± 5 to 41 ± 10 mm; p < 0.05) and PH-NC group (from 3 ± 1 to 24 ± 9 mm; p < 0.05), but not in PH-C patients (1 ± 1 to 11 ± 5 mm; ns). In healthy controls and the PN-NC group, respectively, 100 and 70 % of subjects reached the minimal threshold value for urge of 10 mm during the isobaric distension sequence. In the PH-C group, only two subjects (20 %) reached this threshold (p < 0.05). Rectal pain perception, phasic colonic motility and the rectocolonic reflex were intact in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal motor and sensory function is generally well preserved in women with constipation after hysterectomy. It is unlikely that the symptom of constipation after hysterectomy has been caused by iatrogenic neuronal damage in these patients.

Symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis in remission are associated with visceral hypersensitivity and mast cell activity.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with ulcerative colitis in remission (UCR) frequently report irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms. Recent studies have pointed to the role of mast cells in mediating visceral hypersensitivity in IBS. We hypothesized that visceral hypersensitivity is frequently present in patients with UCR and is related to the quantity and activity of mast cells in the sigmoid mucosa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 17 controls and 19 patients with UCR were studied. Rectal compliance and perception were measured by electronic barostat. Sigmoid biopsies were taken to quantify the amount of mast cells, degranulating mast cells and mast cells in close proximity to mucosal nerve endings. RESULTS: Visceroperception significantly increased in UCR (p < 0.05) versus controls. Rectal perception correlated positively with IBS-like symptoms in UCR (r = 0.969; p < 0.05). The amount of mucosal mast cells (per 100 crypts) was significantly increased in UCR versus controls: 228 ± 20 versus 163 ± 18 (p < 0.05). In the UCR patients a higher percentage of mucosal mast cells was in close proximity to nerve endings (58 ± 4 vs. 38 ± 3% in controls; p < 0.05) or was degranulating (40 ± 7 vs. 16 ± 4% in controls; p < 0.05). There was a significant but weak correlation between quantity of mucosal mast cells and pain perception (r = 0.32; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Rectal hypersensitivity is associated with mucosal presence and activation of mast cells and with IBS-like symptoms in patients with UCR.