Rossi Carlo Maria, Lenti Marco Vincenzo, Merli Stefania, Fiorita Martina, Lo Bello Antonio, Latorre Mario Andrea, Bianchi Paola Ilaria, Aronico Nicola, De Silvestri Annalisa, Di Sabatino Antonio
Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
First Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Front Allergy. 2025 May 8;6:1568595. doi: 10.3389/falgy.2025.1568595. eCollection 2025.
BACKGROUND: Pollen allergy may influence irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms; however, available data are scant. AIMS: This study aims to assess symptom variability in atopic IBS patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed consecutive adult IBS patients evaluated between 2021 and 2024. Patients from the overall IBS cohort and the IBS-diarrhoea (IBS-D) subgroup were classified according to their sensitisation into grass-positive, house dust mite (HDM)-positive, or unsensitised. Symptom burden was assessed using the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) and a visual analogue scale for abdominal pain/distension, both outside the season period (T0) and during the pollination season (T1). RESULTS: A total of 61 IBS patients were recruited (median age 34 years, IQR 25-50, F:M ratio 3.6:1), including 38 patients (62.8%) with IBS-D (median age 30 years, IQR 28-47, F:M ratio 2.8:1). Atopy was common in the IBS-D subgroup, particularly with respiratory manifestations. The mean GSRS significantly ( < 0.01) increased at T1 (variance of 3.4 points) only in grass-sensitised patients as opposed to those sensitised to HDM or unsensitised ones; this effect was present only in the IBS-D subgroup, while no significant variation was observed in the overall cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Pollination season influences symptoms in IBS-D patients sensitised to seasonal allergens.
Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2018-6-1
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008-1
J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2020-4-30
S Afr Med J. 2017-9-22
Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2019-12-31
World J Gastroenterol. 2018-1-7
Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024-12
Int J Mol Sci. 2024-1-18
Autoimmun Rev. 2022-1
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2020