Australian scientists believe they have discovered why many people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) do not receive satisfactory relief from analgesics. The problem is those with the condition have a different immune response to pain compared with healthy people, according to a study of more than 100 subjects published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. This study is the first to give us a real understanding of the interaction between the immune system and pain symptoms in IBS patients, says lead author Dr Patrick Hughes of the University of Adelaide’s Nerve- Gut Research Laboratory. The research has shown that the monocytes and macrophages of people with IBS do not secrete opioid chemicals in the same way as they do for healthy individuals. So its no wonder that people with IBS are experiencing ongoing periods of unexplained pain. And if the immune system is defective, it may also mean that painkilling medications taken by the patient to relieve their symptoms are not being adequately converted to pain relief. Dr Hughes says the exact cause of pain in IBS sufferers remains unknown. But we have now confirmed, and detailed, information about the important role of the immune system in this pain response. Its our hope that this work could eventually lead to more targeted treatments for IBS sufferers, to help treat or prevent the long-term pain they experience, he says. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 2014; online Gastroenterology Update 19/4/14
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 10:51:39 +0000
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