Relationship between rectal sensitivity, symptoms intensity and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND Relationships between pain threshold during rectal distension and both symptoms intensity and alteration in quality of life (QoL) in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients have been poorly evaluated. AIM To evaluate relationships between rectal sensitivity, IBS symptom intensity and QoL in a multicentre prospective study. METHODS Rectal threshold for moderate pain was measured during rectal distension in IBS patients (Rome II), while IBS symptoms intensity was assessed by a validated questionnaire and QoL by the Functional Digestive Disorder Quality of Life questionnaire. RESULTS Sixty-eight patients (44.2 +/- 12.7 years, 48 women) were included. The mean rectal distending volume for moderate pain was 127 +/- 35 mL while 45 patients (66%) had rectal hypersensitivity (pain threshold <140 mL). Rectal threshold was not significantly related either to overall IBS intensity score (r = -0.66, P = 0.62) or to its different components, or to FDDQL score (r = 0.30, P = 0.14). Among FDDQL domains, only anxiety (r = 0.30, P = 0.01) and coping (r = 0.31, P = 0.009) were significantly related with pain threshold. CONCLUSIONS In this study, two-thirds of IBS patients exhibited rectal hypersensitivity. No significant correlation was found between rectal threshold and either symptom intensity or alteration in QoL.