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©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2006; 12(17): 2672-2676
Published online May 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i17.2672
Published online May 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i17.2672
Functional dyspepsia: The role of visceral hypersensitivity in its pathogenesis
John Keohane, Eamonn M M Quigley, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Correspondence to: Eamonn M M Quigley, MD, FRCP, FACP, FACG, FRCPI, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Department of Medicine, Clinical Sciences Building, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. e.quigley@ucc.ie
Telephone: +353-21-4901228 Fax: +353-21-4901289
Received: March 3, 2006
Revised: March 12, 2006
Accepted: March 27, 2006
Published online: May 7, 2006
Revised: March 12, 2006
Accepted: March 27, 2006
Published online: May 7, 2006
Abstract
Functional, or non-ulcer, dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common reasons for referral to gastroenterologists. It is associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. Many authorities believe that functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome represent part of the spectrum of the same disease process. The pathophysiology of FD remains unclear but several theories have been proposed including visceral hypersensitivity, gastric motor dysfunction, Helicobacter pylori infection and psychosocial factors. In this review, we look at the evidence, to date, for the role of visceral hypersensitivity in the aetiology of FD.