The enteric nervous system is mainly located between the two muscle layers where it controls and co-ordinates the work of the muscle cells. Another type of pseudo-obstruction is caused by damage to the muscles of the bowel wall. Damage to the muscle cells is called visceral myopathy and leads to myopathic pseudo-obstruction . Visceral myopathy causes weakening of the muscular contractions. Sometimes visceral myopathy can present as long-standing cramps in the muscles of the gut.
Hereditary forms exist in both neuropathic and myopathic pseudo-obstruction.
In many cases the disease may become manifest already at an early age but in others the first symptoms may not appear until adult age. In the majority of adult cases there is no family history of pseudo-obstruction and these are therefore referred to as sporadic or idiopathic cases. Secondary pseudo-obstruction may occur as a complication to other diseases. Difficult route to diagnosis The onset of pseudo-obstruction is usually insidious. Acute onset is rare except in acute forms of pseudo-obstruction like Ogilvie's syndrome.