Pain treatments less effective for those with irritable bowel
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
University of 亚洲色吧 researchers have discovered that the immune system is defective in people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, which is a major reason why sufferers have ongoing issues with pain.
The research - the first of its kind in the world - could also help to explain why some painkillers may not offer satisfactory relief to sufferers.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 10% of the community. There are different forms of IBS but all of them involve unexplained gut pain, which often has the greatest impact on sufferers' quality of life.
Scientists in the University's Nerve-Gut Research Laboratory have now demonstrated the mechanisms involved, and the differences between the immune pain response in healthy people and those suffering from IBS. The results of their work have been published in the journal .
"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 , NHMRC Peter Doherty Fellow with the University's .
"The gut contains specialised immune cells, known as monocytes and macrophages. Our research has shown that in healthy people, thes