Perspectives on irritable bowel syndrome: where have we been? Where are we now?

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic functional disorder with a complex etiology and multiple overlapping symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by long-lasting abdominal pain or discomfort, abnormal bowel habits and typically inadequate response to many of the available therapies.

Keywords::

• constipation
• diagnostic criteria
• functional gastrointestinal disorder
• irritable bowel syndrome
• linaclotide
• prevalence
• Rome III

Financial & competing interests disclosure

V Stanghellini is a speaker and consultant for, and receives research funding from Almirall. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Medical writing assistance was provided by H Christian of Complete Medical Communications Ltd and was funded by Almirall.