Verne Zachary Thomas, Fields Jeremy Zachary, Verne George Nicholas, Zhang Benjamin Buyi, Thacker Amber Leigh, Zhou QiQi
Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, The United States.
Research Service, Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr., VA Medical Center, Memphis, The United States.
Int J Gasteroenterol (N Y). 2024 Jun;8(1):5-10. doi: 10.11648/ijg.20240801.12. Epub 2024 Feb 5.
An estimated 694,550 United States service members were actively deployed to the Persian Gulf from 1990-1991. Many veterans who were deployed developed Persian Gulf War Syndrome along with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms after returning from the Persian Gulf. Our objective in this study was to determine the phenotypic expression of gastrointestinal symptom complexes in previously healthy veterans who had been stationed in the Persian Gulf. One hundred and four consecutive veterans (88 males, 16 females) who had previously been deployed in 1990-91 were evaluated for their bowel habits and gastrointestinal symptoms. A workup was completed to find identifiable causes of their symptoms and all veterans were asked to do a modified version of the Bowel Disease Questionnaire symptom survey. None of the veterans reported gastrointestinal symptoms before deployment. During deployment to the Persian Gulf: 22 veterans (21%) developed irritable bowel syndrome; 17 (16%) developed dyspepsia; 50 (48%) developed diarrhea; 11 (11%) developed bloating; and 4 (4%) developed constipation. The results of the current study suggest that the development of irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, diarrhea, bloating, and constipation is frequently seen in deployed Gulf War Veterans and the gastrointestinal symptoms commonly persist upon returning home. These novel findings are very important for currently deployed veterans who are serving in the Middle East and are at a high risk of developing gastrointestinal disorders.
据估计，1990年至1991年期间，有694,550名美国军人被积极部署到波斯湾地区。许多被部署的退伍军人在从波斯湾返回后出现了波斯湾战争综合征以及慢性胃肠道症状。我们这项研究的目的是确定曾驻扎在波斯湾地区的健康退伍军人胃肠道症状复合体的表型表达。对1990年至1991年期间曾被部署的104名连续退伍军人（88名男性，16名女性）的排便习惯和胃肠道症状进行了评估。进行了详细检查以找出其症状的可识别原因，并要求所有退伍军人完成一份改良版的肠道疾病问卷症状调查。没有退伍军人报告在部署前有胃肠道症状。在部署到波斯湾期间：22名退伍军人（21%）患上了肠易激综合征；17名（16%）患上了消化不良；50名（48%）出现了腹泻；11名（11%）出现了腹胀；4名（4%）出现了便秘。当前研究的结果表明，在被部署的海湾战争退伍军人中，肠易激综合征、消化不良、腹泻、腹胀和便秘的发生很常见，而且胃肠道症状在回国后通常会持续存在。这些新发现对于目前在中东服役且患胃肠道疾病风险很高的被部署退伍军人非常重要。
