UEG's content platform for gastroenterology education bringing recordings, courses, guidelines, and more together in one place.

UEG Week Berlin 2025 Recordings Gut Guide online What's new on Gutflix

Trending on Gutflix

Rate for better recommendations!

Your feedback helps us show you more of what you like and less of what you dislike!

More of this!

We will show you more similar content.

Not for me!

We won't suggest this again.

Bookmark!

Save this content for later!

New to myUEG? Create an account! Log In with myUEG account

UEG Poster

Standard Poster

Share via Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky

This content is part of Gutflix. Log in with your myUEG account, or create one free, to watch it.

Not sure what you can access? Learn more about account types.

EFFECT OF A HISTAMINE RICH MEAL VERSUS A LOW HISTAMINE MEAL ON URINARY HISTAMINE AND N-METHYLHISTAMINE EXCRETION

Bert Broeders 1, Linde Van Aelst 1, Joran Toth 1, Christophe Matthys 2, Jan Tack 3

Affiliations

1 KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

2 UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

3 University of Leuven, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

Summary

AI Generated

A pilot crossover study in 10 healthy volunteers found that ingestion of a histamine-rich meal compared to a low-histamine meal did not increase urinary n-methylhistamine excretion and caused only a transient increase in postprandial fullness at 15 minutes.

In 10 healthy volunteers (70% female, mean age 23.8 years), urinary n-methylhistamine excretion did not differ between histamine-rich and low-histamine meals (34.5±8.8 vs 36.3±10.3 µg/g creatinine, p=0.779).
Urinary histamine levels were below the detection limit in the majority of samples, precluding statistical analysis of this marker.
Overall gastrointestinal symptom scores did not differ significantly between the two meal types over the 4-hour observation period.
At 15 minutes postprandially, the histamine-rich meal was associated with higher postprandial fullness scores (mean difference 0.4, 95% CI 0.01–0.79, p=0.038), but this effect was transient.
The study explored urinary histamine measurement as a potential non-invasive tool to detect food reactions in functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, conditions affecting approximately 20% of the population.

Download PDF

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

This summary was generated by an AI large language model based on the content transcript. It is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for clinical judgment. Always rely on your professional expertise and the full clinical context when making clinical decisions.

Abstract

Introduction

Functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are disorders that affect approximately 20% of the population. One of the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms in these conditions is a loss of mucosal integrity, associated with low-grade inflammation and food-induced mast cell activation. To date, confocal laser endomicroscopy to monitor allergy-like reactions to luminal food protein application, or a wheal-and-flare-like reaction to submucosal injection of food proteins have experimentally been used to demonstrate allergy-like food responses in these patients. Compared to these complex methods, urinary histamine measurement may provide an elegant and non-invasive tool to detect such food reactions in FD and IBS. In this pilot project we assessed the ability to detect an increase of urinary histamine and n-methylhistamine after ingestion of food with different histamine content.

Aims & Methods

Healthy volunteers were recruited to ingest a histamine rich meal (HRM) or low histamine meal (LHM) on two different days with one week in between, in a cross over fashion. All volunteers filled out the upper gastrointestial ROME-IV diagnostic questionnaire to confirm the absence of disorders of gut-brain interaction. Volunteers came to the hospital fasted and received a standardized breakfast (pancake, brown sugar, water). After two hours participants were asked to empty the bladder before they consumed the study meal. After finishing the meal participants collected all urine and filled out symptom questionnaires of 10 gastrointestinal symptoms (VAS 0-4) for 4 hours. ELISA analysis of urinary histamine and n-methylhistamine were performed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Data are shown as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical tests were done using a paired T-test or two-way ANOVA with correction for multiple testing as appropriate.

Results

We recruited 10 healthy volunteers (70% female) with an average age of 23,8 ± 5,05 years and an average body mass index (BMI) of 21,3±1,55. All participants finished the whole meal. Urinary output was similar after the HRM and LHM (respectively 577±167 mL and 540±128 mL, p=0,605). There was no difference in urinary n-methylhistamine excretion between the HRM and LHM (respectively 34,5±8,8 µg/g creatinine vs 36,3±10,3 µg/g creatinine, p=0,779). Urinary excretion measures of histamine were below the detection limit in the majority of samples, excluding this aspect from statistical analysis. Overall symptom scores did not differ significantly after the HRM and the LHM. Only at 15 minutes postprandially, higher scores were found for postprandial fullness after the HRM (mean difference of 0,4 [95% CI 0,01 – 0,79], p=0,038).

Conclusion

In healthy volunteers administration of food with high histamine content compared to food with low histamine content does not increase urinary n-methylhistamine excretion. Ingestion of a histamine rich meal was associated with a transient postprandial increase of excessive postprandial fullness and did not induce a significant rise in postprandial symptoms.

References

1: Vanheel H, Vicario M, Vanuytsel T, Van Oudenhove L, Martinez C, Keita ÅV, Pardon N, Santos J, Söderholm JD, Tack J, Farré R. Impaired duodenal mucosal integrity and low-grade inflammation in functional dyspepsia. Gut. 2014 Feb;63(2):262-71.
2: McIntosh K, Reed DE, Schneider T, Dang F, Keshteli AH, De Palma G, Madsen K, Bercik P, Vanner S. FODMAPs alter symptoms and the metabolome of patients with IBS: a randomised controlled trial. Gut. 2017 Jul;66(7):1241-1251.

Conference

UEG Week Copenhagen 2023

Topics

Small Intestine & Nutrition

Submission format

Abstract

Session

PP 04 Nutrition (Posters)

Citation

United European Gastroenterology Journal 2023; 11 (Supplement 8)

Published

2023

More Like This:

Upper GI disorders

Hans Törnblom

OVERDIAGNOSIS OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY SYNDROME: LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC CONCORDANCE BETWEEN IMAGING MODALITIES AND LIMITED BENEFIT OF SURGERY

Tim Vanuytsel

Dyspepsia: To treat or to scope

Juan Mendive

PREVALENCE OF GERD IN PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES: INSIGHTS FROM A SWEDISH TERTIARY CENTRE COHORT

Aldona Dlugosz

Intestinal permeability testing

Jan Tack

TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF COLONIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH OR WITHOUT MENTAL/SOMATIC COMORBIDITIES: RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DISCOVERIE STUDY

Carmen Alonso-Cotoner

UEG Presentation

New

Share via Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky

This content is part of Gutflix. Log in with your myUEG account, or create one free, to watch it.

Not sure what you can access? Learn more about account types.

Upper GI disorders

Hans Törnblom 1

Affiliations

1 Inst of medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden

Summary

AI Generated

Summary is not available for this content yet.

Download PDF

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Abstract

Event

UEG Week Barcelona 2026

Topics

Neurogastroenterology & Motility Paediatrics

Session

What’s new in… Rome V?

Citation

2026: United European Gastroenterology Journal 2026; 14 (S1)

Published

2026

More Like This:

Upper GI disorders

Hans Törnblom

OVERDIAGNOSIS OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY SYNDROME: LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC CONCORDANCE BETWEEN IMAGING MODALITIES AND LIMITED BENEFIT OF SURGERY

Tim Vanuytsel

Dyspepsia: To treat or to scope

Juan Mendive

PREVALENCE OF GERD IN PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES: INSIGHTS FROM A SWEDISH TERTIARY CENTRE COHORT

Aldona Dlugosz

Intestinal permeability testing

Jan Tack

TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF COLONIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH OR WITHOUT MENTAL/SOMATIC COMORBIDITIES: RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DISCOVERIE STUDY

Carmen Alonso-Cotoner

UEG Presentation

New

Share via Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky

OVERDIAGNOSIS OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY SYNDROME: LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC CONCORDANCE BETWEEN IMAGING MODALITIES AND LIMITED BENEFIT OF SURGERY

This content is part of Gutflix. Log in with your myUEG account, or create one free, to watch it.

Not sure what you can access? Learn more about account types.

OVERDIAGNOSIS OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY SYNDROME: LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC CONCORDANCE BETWEEN IMAGING MODALITIES AND LIMITED BENEFIT OF SURGERY

Christian von Muhlenbrock 1,2,3, Sandrien Abbeel 4, Thomas Debrouwere 1, Dirk Vanbeckevoort 1, Jan Tack 1, Tim Vanuytsel 1

Affiliations

1 KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

2 Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

3 Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile

4 KU Leuven, Eppegem, Belgium

Summary

AI Generated

Summary is not available for this content yet.

Download PDF

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Abstract

Introduction

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is traditionally described as a rare vascular cause of duodenal obstruction. However, overlapping symptoms with functional gastrointestinal disorders and variable radiological criteria raise concerns regarding overdiagnosis.

Aims & Methods

We aimed to evaluate diagnostic concordance across modalities and clinical outcomes following medical and surgical treatment in patients referred for suspected SMA syndrome.We retrospectively analyzed 49 consecutive patients undergoing hypotonic barium duodenography (HBD) for suspected SMA syndrome based on symptoms and standard imaging (ultrasound or CT) in a tertiary neurogastroenterology center (2003–2023). SMA syndrome was defined by the combination of fixed abrupt narrowing of the third duodenum and proximal duodenal dilatation on HBD, the gold standard for the diagnosis in our center, in the absence of a more plausible diagnosis. CT-based aortomesenteric angle (AMA) and distance (AMD), intestinal manometry findings, gastric emptying, and treatment outcomes were also assessed.

Results

Only 11/49 patients (22%) met strict HBD criteria for SMA syndrome. Clinical presentation, BMI, and weight loss were indistinguishable between HBD-confirmed cases and controls (Table 1). CT criteria lacked specificity: 4 patients with positive CT findings had negative HBD and were ultimately diagnosed with alternative disorders of gut–brain interaction. AMA was lower in confirmed cases (18.8° vs 26.5°, p=0.05), whereas AMD did not significantly differ. Conservative medical management (n=6) led to symptom improvement in 50%. In contrast, despite >5% weight gain in 80% of patients undergoing a duodenojejunostomy (n=4) or gastroenterostomy (n=1) , meaningful symptom improvement occurred in only one patient, with procedure-related complications observed (dumping syndrome in 2 and worsening of gastroparesis-like symptoms in 1 patient).

Parameters	Patients with SMA syndrome on HBD (N=11)	Control group (N=38)	p-value
Age (years)	30.5 ± 3.2	34.0 ± 1.9	0.37
Body mass index (kg/m2)	17.5 (16.2, 19.3)	17.5 (16.4, 19.1)	1.00
Gender Male Female	1 (9%) 10 (91%)	7 (18%) 31 (82%)	0.66
Patients reporting weight loss	10 (91%)	32 (84%)	1.00
Weight loss (kg)	8.7 ± 1.6	9.8 ± 1.5	0.96
Weight loss of >10%	8 (73%)	22 (58%)	0.49
Aortamesenteric angle (°)	18.8 ± 2.52	26.5 ± 2.11	0.05
Aortamesenteric distance (mm)	5 (4.5, 7.5)	7.0 (6, 9)	0.13
Gastric emptying study: t1/2 (minutes)	70 (64.5, 85.5)	119 (74, 159)	0.02

Conclusion

In a tertiary referral setting, most patients suspected of SMA syndrome do not meet strict diagnostic criteria on HBD. Standard radiological findings alone may overestimate the condition, and surgical intervention frequently fails to improve symptoms. These findings question whether SMA syndrome represents a distinct clinical entity in most cases and support a highly restrictive, conservative management strategy.

Event

UEG Week Barcelona 2026

Topics

Small Intestine & Nutrition Endoscopy

Submission format

Abstract

Session

Small intestine diseases: Inside the black box

Citation

2026: United European Gastroenterology Journal 2026; 14 (S1)

Published

2026

More Like This:

Upper GI disorders

Hans Törnblom

OVERDIAGNOSIS OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY SYNDROME: LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC CONCORDANCE BETWEEN IMAGING MODALITIES AND LIMITED BENEFIT OF SURGERY

Tim Vanuytsel

Dyspepsia: To treat or to scope

Juan Mendive

PREVALENCE OF GERD IN PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES: INSIGHTS FROM A SWEDISH TERTIARY CENTRE COHORT

Aldona Dlugosz

Intestinal permeability testing

Jan Tack

TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF COLONIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH OR WITHOUT MENTAL/SOMATIC COMORBIDITIES: RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DISCOVERIE STUDY

Carmen Alonso-Cotoner

UEG Presentation

New

Share via Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky

This content is part of Gutflix. Log in with your myUEG account, or create one free, to watch it.

Not sure what you can access? Learn more about account types.

Dyspepsia: To treat or to scope

Juan Mendive 1

Affiliations

1 European Society for Primary Care Gastroenterology (ESPCG), Sant Adrià de Besòs ( Barcelona), Spain

Summary

AI Generated

Summary is not available for this content yet.

Download PDF

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Abstract

Event

UEG Week Barcelona 2026

Topics

Hepatobiliary Primary Care Neurogastroenterology & Motility Endoscopy

Session

Cross-cutting: Diagnostic - invasive or not invasive

Citation

2026: United European Gastroenterology Journal 2026; 14 (S1)

Published

2026

More Like This:

Upper GI disorders

Hans Törnblom

OVERDIAGNOSIS OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY SYNDROME: LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC CONCORDANCE BETWEEN IMAGING MODALITIES AND LIMITED BENEFIT OF SURGERY

Tim Vanuytsel

Dyspepsia: To treat or to scope

Juan Mendive

PREVALENCE OF GERD IN PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES: INSIGHTS FROM A SWEDISH TERTIARY CENTRE COHORT

Aldona Dlugosz

Intestinal permeability testing

Jan Tack

TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF COLONIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH OR WITHOUT MENTAL/SOMATIC COMORBIDITIES: RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DISCOVERIE STUDY

Carmen Alonso-Cotoner

UEG Presentation

New

Share via Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky

PREVALENCE OF GERD IN PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES: INSIGHTS FROM A SWEDISH TERTIARY CENTRE COHORT

This content is part of Gutflix. Log in with your myUEG account, or create one free, to watch it.

Not sure what you can access? Learn more about account types.

PREVALENCE OF GERD IN PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES: INSIGHTS FROM A SWEDISH TERTIARY CENTRE COHORT

Kotryna Truskaite 1,2, Fredrik Kvelebro 2,1, Greger Lindberg 1,2, Aldona Dlugosz 1

Affiliations

1 Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

2 Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Summary

AI Generated

Summary is not available for this content yet.

Download PDF

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Abstract

Introduction

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common inflammatory esophageal disorders with overlapping clinical and histological features. Differentiation between them is challenging though important for appropriate patient management. EoE exhibit a rising incidence and prevalence while GERD is far more prevalent in the general population compared to EoE. GERD prevalence (symptom-based) is estimated at 10-25% among adults in Western population and up to 30% in the USA. Global age-standardised prevalence is 8% in Western Europe. The true burden of concomitant EoE and GERD remain uncertain. This study aimed to access GERD prevalence among EoE patients and to evaluate maintenance treatment at a single tertiary care centre in Sweden.

Aims & Methods

This retrospective study analysed medical records of adult EoE patients diagnosed and treated at Karolinska University Hospital between 2012 and 2025. GERD diagnoses were made using updated Lyon consensus criteria and pH-metry tests.

Results

Fifty-eight of 305 patients with EoE (19%) had concomitant GERD. These patients were older (median 45 vs 35 years; p<0.05) with high male predominance (86% vs 75%). Dysphagia and food bolus impaction dominated in both groups, while reflux symptoms and hiatal hernia were significantly more common in EoE +GERD group (p<0.05). Barretts esophagus was identified in 9 patients (3% overall; 16% of EoE +GERD). All EoE +GERD patients received PPI therapy compared with 92% of EoE non-GERD patients with higher clinical response in EoE +GERD (88% vs 66%) (p<0.05). Corticosteroid use and response to treatment were similar (EoE +GERD, 55% vs EoE non-GERD 61%). Among patients receiving topical corticosteroids, budesonide was used more often than fluticasone (44%, vs 30%) and was associated with higher histological remission (84% vs 58%; RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.19-1.81; p<0.05) and lower treatment failure (4% vs 16%; RR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08-0.66; p<0.05). EoE +GERD patients were more frequently maintained on PPI therapy alone (62% vs 34%, p<0.001) or in combination with corticosteroids (21% vs 7%; p=0.002). The proportion of patients remaining on PPI despite persistent histological activity was similar in EoE +GERD and non-GERD groups (31% vs 32%). Corticosteroid only maintenance (33% vs 7%; p<0.001) particularly budesonide (28% vs 5%; p<0.001) and food elimination diet therapy (13% vs 2%; p=0.03) were more common in EoE non-GERD patients. PPI maintenance therapy was associated with significantly higher odds of loss to follow up (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.74-4.70; p<0.001) in EoE patients.

Conclusion

In total 19% of EoE patients had concomitant GERD. This prevalence is within the range reported in general Western population but higher than age-standardised estimates for Western Europe. Barrett’s esophagus was observed in 3% of all EoE patients and 16% of those with concomitant GERD, appearing higher than in the general population. EoE +GERD patients more frequently received PPI-based maintenance therapy. In contrast, EoE non-GERD patients more often required escalation to corticosteroid or dietary therapy. Treatment response and the proportion of patients remaining on PPI despite persistent histological activity were similar between the groups. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Event

UEG Week Barcelona 2026

Topics

Oesophagus Small Intestine & Nutrition Neurogastroenterology & Motility

Submission format

Abstract

Session

Functional upper GI disorders: From epidemiology to therapies

Citation

2026: United European Gastroenterology Journal 2026; 14 (S1)

Published

2026

More Like This:

Upper GI disorders

Hans Törnblom

OVERDIAGNOSIS OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY SYNDROME: LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC CONCORDANCE BETWEEN IMAGING MODALITIES AND LIMITED BENEFIT OF SURGERY

Tim Vanuytsel

Dyspepsia: To treat or to scope

Juan Mendive

PREVALENCE OF GERD IN PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES: INSIGHTS FROM A SWEDISH TERTIARY CENTRE COHORT

Aldona Dlugosz

Intestinal permeability testing

Jan Tack

TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF COLONIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH OR WITHOUT MENTAL/SOMATIC COMORBIDITIES: RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DISCOVERIE STUDY

Carmen Alonso-Cotoner

UEG Presentation

New

Share via Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky

This content is part of Gutflix. Log in with your myUEG account, or create one free, to watch it.

Not sure what you can access? Learn more about account types.

Intestinal permeability testing

Jan Tack 1

Affiliations

1 UZ Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Summary

AI Generated

Summary is not available for this content yet.

Download PDF

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Abstract

Event

UEG Week Barcelona 2026

Topics

Gut Microbiota Small Intestine & Nutrition

Session

Navigating between fake and truth in GI testing

Citation

2026: United European Gastroenterology Journal 2026; 14 (S1)

Published

2026

More Like This:

Upper GI disorders

Hans Törnblom

OVERDIAGNOSIS OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY SYNDROME: LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC CONCORDANCE BETWEEN IMAGING MODALITIES AND LIMITED BENEFIT OF SURGERY

Tim Vanuytsel

Dyspepsia: To treat or to scope

Juan Mendive

PREVALENCE OF GERD IN PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES: INSIGHTS FROM A SWEDISH TERTIARY CENTRE COHORT

Aldona Dlugosz

Intestinal permeability testing

Jan Tack

TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF COLONIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH OR WITHOUT MENTAL/SOMATIC COMORBIDITIES: RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DISCOVERIE STUDY

Carmen Alonso-Cotoner

UEG Presentation

New

Share via Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky

TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF COLONIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH OR WITHOUT MENTAL/SOMATIC COMORBIDITIES: RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DISCOVERIE STUDY

This content is part of Gutflix. Log in with your myUEG account, or create one free, to watch it.

Not sure what you can access? Learn more about account types.

TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF COLONIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH OR WITHOUT MENTAL/SOMATIC COMORBIDITIES: RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DISCOVERIE STUDY

Juan Manuel Garcia 1, Ana Maria Gonzalez-Castro 1,2, Beatriz Lobo Alvarez 1,2,3, Elba Exposito 1, Marc Pigrau Pastor 4,3, Amanda Rodriguez 1,3,5, Ricard Farré 6, Magnus Simrén 7, Giovanni Barbara 8,9, Maria Raffaella Barbaro 9,8, Maaike Van Den Houte 10, Andrei Pop 11, Daisy Mae Jonkers 12, Javier Santos 1,2,3, Carmen Alonso-Cotoner 1,2,3

Affiliations

1 Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain

2 CIBEREHD, Madrid, Spain

3 Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain

4 Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

5 CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain

6 University of Leuven, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Leuven, Belgium

7 Sahlgrenska University Hospital - Dept of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital ; Gothe, Gothenburg, Sweden

8 University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

9 Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

10 Laboratory for Brain-Gut Axis Studies, Translational Research in Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Leuven, Belgium

11 Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

12 Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands

Summary

AI Generated

Summary is not available for this content yet.

Download PDF

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Abstract

Introduction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic, relapsing disorder frequently associated with psychiatric and/or somatic comorbidities, including depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue. Although its pathogenesis is multifactorial, dysfunction of the gut-brain axis is considered a key underlying mechanism. However, the specific molecular alterations and pathways involved remain poorly characterized.

Aims & Methods

We aimed to characterize the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of colonic mucosa in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients with or without mental and/or somatic comorbidities compared with healthy subjects. Methods: Within the European DISCOvERIE project, IBS patients and healthy volunteers (HV) were recruited across five European centers. Colonic biopsies and demographic and clinical variables, including symptom severity scores for IBS (IBS-SSS), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), somatic symptoms (PHQ-15), fibromyalgia (FIQ), and fatigue (MFI) were collected. RNA was extracted and analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Libraries were prepared using TruSeq Stranded mRNA (Illumina) and sequenced on a NovaSeq 6000 platform. Differential gene expression (DE) analysis was performed using the DESeq2 package in R, with gene-level validation by qPCR. Proteomic analysis was performed through LC-MS/MS and quantified using Proteome Discoverer 2.5. Protein DE was assessed using the limma package in R.

Results

A total of 174 subjects (131 IBS patients and 43 HV) were included. For transcriptomic analysis, a subset was randomly selected comprising 20 HV (10 male/10 female) and 60 IBS patients (17 M/43 F), stratified into IBS without comorbidities (IBS-A: n=20), IBS with anxiety and/or depression (IBS-Co:N=20), and IBS with both mental and somatic comorbidities (IBS-MCo; N=20). Symptom severity scores for IBS, depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, fibromyalgia, and fatigue increased progressively along with the number of comorbidities (p<0.001). In colonic mucosa, seven DE genes were identified between HV and IBS-MCo (FDR<0.1), two of which were related to barrier function and immune response. qPCR confirmed increased expression of both genes in IBS (p=0.023 and p=0.083). Proteomic analysis identified 271 DE proteins in IBS-MCo compared with HV. These proteins were enriched in pathways related to DNA/RNA processing and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, oxidative phosphorylation, and thermogenesis. Additionally, 18, 12, and 3 DE proteins were identified in IBS-A, IBS-Co, and IBS-MCo, respectively. Interestingly, 46 DE proteins were identified in HV compared with IBS, of which 4 were consistently DE across all three IBS subgroups.

Conclusion

Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of colonic mucosa reveals distinct molecular alterations in IBS patients, depending on comorbidity burden. Several potential diagnostic biomarkers emerged from this analysis. Further validation studies are required to confirm these findings.

References

EU-FUNDED PROJECT Nº: 848228

Event

UEG Week Barcelona 2026

Topics

Mechanisms & Personalised Medicine Immunology Digestive Oncology Colorectal

Submission format

Abstract

Session

The gut talks back

Citation

2026: United European Gastroenterology Journal 2026; 14 (S1)

Published

2026

More Like This:

Upper GI disorders

Hans Törnblom

OVERDIAGNOSIS OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY SYNDROME: LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC CONCORDANCE BETWEEN IMAGING MODALITIES AND LIMITED BENEFIT OF SURGERY

Tim Vanuytsel

Dyspepsia: To treat or to scope

Juan Mendive

PREVALENCE OF GERD IN PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES: INSIGHTS FROM A SWEDISH TERTIARY CENTRE COHORT

Aldona Dlugosz

Intestinal permeability testing

Jan Tack

TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF COLONIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH OR WITHOUT MENTAL/SOMATIC COMORBIDITIES: RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DISCOVERIE STUDY

Carmen Alonso-Cotoner