Published online Jul 28, 2023. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v15.i7.226
Peer-review started: April 25, 2023
First decision: June 19, 2023
Revised: June 20, 2023
Accepted: July 7, 2023
Article in press: July 7, 2023
Published online: July 28, 2023
Processing time: 89 Days and 23.6 Hours
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common illnesses referred to the gastrointestinal outpatient clinic. The pathophysiology of IBS is not completely understood. One of the pathophysiologies is visceral hypersensitivity. The sympathetic nervous system is primarily responsible for managing the arteries, and its consequence is vasospasm in the medium and large arteries, which results in decreased blood flow.
Our impetus came from our study's adoption of a novel approach to assess changes in vasomotor activity in IBS patients.
We wanted to employ a different way to determine the change in vasomotor activity in persons with IBS in our study.
The diameter and flow velocities of the brachial artery were determined using a probe with Doppler examination at the diameter of the antecubital fossa. To activate the sympathetic fibers, bipolar stimulation was applied to the median nerve at the wrist. Brachial artery diameter and flow velocities were assessed again immediately after the fifth stimulation.
In our study, a statistically significant decrease was found in brachial artery flow velocity and diameter after sympathetic stimulation in healthy individuals without a history of chronic disease. In patients with IBS, a statistically significant increase was found in brachial artery flow velocity and diameter after sympathetic stimulation.
As a result, sympathetic activation reduces artery width and blood flow in healthy people. In people with IBS, it has the opposite effect. Detection of changes in brachial artery diameter and flow velocity by Doppler examination is thought to be more useful and comfortable than other methods described in the literature.
It has been discovered that the autonomic activity of persons suffering from IBS differs from that of healthy people. Colored Doppler ultrasonography can be used as a noninvasive diagnostic method that can be conducted at any age, is comfortable for the patient, and does not require additional patient compliance in patients with IBS.