Validation of Surrogate Measures in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Summary

Visceral and somatic hypersensitivity as evidence of central sensory sensitization occur in the majority of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients. We recently demonstrated abnormal endogenous pain modulation as a cause of the sensitization in IBS and identified the underlying dysfunctional neuromatrix using functional MR-imaging (fMRI). Endogenous pain mechanisms regulate, fine-tune and integrate sensory and homeostatic, including neuroendocrine, immune and autonomic nervous system processes. Specific measures of sensitization and endogenous pain modulation correlate with clinical measures of somatic and neuropathic pain, suggesting usefulness as surrogate markers for clinical pain outcomes. Validation of experimental measures as surrogate markers in IBS would provide a considerable advance in pathophysiological and therapeutic research in this pharmacoeconomically burdensome disease.

Timeline

Start

2009-02

Primary completion

2012-01

Completion

2012-01

Drugs

Indications