Assessment of Small Intestinal Bowel Epithelial Gaps in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study aims to: Determine whether the density of epithelial gaps in terminal ileum of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is different from that in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and normal controls by confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE). Evaluate the relationship between the density of epithelial gaps and IBS subtypes, and visceral hypersensitivity.

Detailed Description
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Epithelial cells lining the gastrointestinal tract serve as a barrier between the gut lumen and the body. Previous study has shown that epithelium is punctuated by discontinuities named gaps. Confocal laser endomicroscopy could be used as a useful tool for detecting epithelial gaps in vivo, and epithelial gap density in terminal ileum of IBD patients was elevated compared with normal control using CLE. So this study aims to determine whether the density of epithelial gaps in terminal ileum of patients with IBS is different from that in IBD patients and normal controls by CLE, and to evaluate the relationship between the density of epithelial gaps and IBS subtypes, and visceral hypersensitivity.

Official Title
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Assessment of Small Intestinal Bowel Epithelial Gaps in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy

Conditions
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Bowel habits alterations meeting IBS Rome III criteria and indications for colonoscopy investigation Patients with history of inflammatory bowel disease Asymptomatic individuals for health surveillance or patients for follow up after polypectomy Patients complained of hemafecia but colonoscopy revealed only haemorrhoid Exclusion Criteria: Patients with known cancers or abdominal surgery Alarm symptoms such as anaemia, gastrointestinal bleeding or obstruction, marked weight loss, abdominal mass Patients who are unwilling to sign or give the informed consent form Patients who are allergic to fluorescein sodium Patients with impaired cardiac, liver or renal function Patients with coagulopathy Patients with pregnancy or breastfeeding

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Irritable bowel syndrome<br>Patients admitted to outpatient department with symptoms meeting Rome III criteria of irritable bowel syndrome. | |
| Inflammation<br>Patients with long standing history or short onset of inflammatory bowel disease. | |
| Normal controls<br>Asymptomatic individuals admitted for health surveillance or patients for follow up after polypectomy. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy