Advances in the management of irritable bowel syndrome.

Recent advances in different aspects of irritable bowel syndrome have led to a need to reassess the overall management of this common, complex disorder. Important areas include: first, the heterogeneity of symptom patterns and the role of specific diagnostic symptom criteria for use in both clinical practice and in clinical research; second, the growing interest in the potential interaction between "peripheral" and "central" pathophysiological mechanisms; and third, the development of novel and effective drugs designed to target specific receptor systems in the enteric nervous system. This review covers each of these aspects and emphasizes an approach to management of patients based on pathophysiological considerations.

Copyright 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd