Focus on Spasmomen®
Abstract
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the disorder most encountered by gastroenterologists.1 In the absence of a reliable disease biomarker, several symptom-based criteria have been proposed to standardise the diagnosis of IBS.2 The most widely used among them are the ROME IV criteria.2
IBS is a multifactorial disorder, with the following among the proposed mechanisms contributing to symptomatology: gastrointestinal dysmotility, inflammation, visceral hypersensitivity, and altered intestinal microbiota.1 Diet and stress exposure (including early life events) have been proposed as contributing factors.1 Lastly, genetic predisposition and environmental interactions have been implicated in the pathogenesis of IBS.1
Substantial advances have been made in understanding the complex pathophysiology of IBS, resulting in its reclassification as a disorder of gut-brain interaction, rather than as a functional gastrointestinal disorder.3
Treatment of IBS is diverse, geared towards the predominant symptom, and includes lifestyle and dietary modifications and medical therapy if these modifications do not provide adequate symptom improvement.4,5
