Bromocriptine-associated hyponatraemia in cirrhosis.

since the study period. In-vitro tests of thryoid function have become more specific and more available recently and we believe that these should now be included in the routine investigations whenever there is the slightest suspicion that hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism might account for a patient's presenting bowel disorder. A total of 57% of the surviving patients (18 men and 26 women) still had their symptoms at follow up, though most had learnt to live with the problem and confirmed that reassurance and explanation were particularly important in treatment. This confirms the conclusions of previous studies that the irritable bowel syndrome is often a chronic, relapsing disorder4 6 and further investigations are not necessary unless there is an appreciable change in the symptom pattern. References 1Manning AP, Thompson WG, Heaton KW, Morris AF. Towards positive diagnosis of the irritable bowel. Br MedJ 1978;ii:653-4. 2 Salter RH, Cole TP, Scott-Harden WG, Girdwood TG, Reid MA. Patient-orientated gastroenterology. Br Med 7 1975 ;i:130-1. 3 Thompson DG, Laidlow JM, Wingate DL. Abnormal small-bowel motility demonstrated by radiotelemetry in a patient with irritable colon. Lancet 1979;ii:1321-3. 4 Chaudhary NA, Truelove SC. The irritable colon syndrome. Q J Med 1962 ;31 :307-22. 5 Hawkins CF, Cockel R. The prognosis and risk of missing malignant disease in patients with unexplained and functional diarrhoea. Gut 1971 ;12:208-11. 5 Waller SL, Misiewicz JJ. Prognosis in the irritable bowel syndrome. Lancet 1969;ii:753-6.