The role of genetics in IBS

  • Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2011 Mar;40(1):45-67. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2010.12.011.
Yuri A Saito  1
Affiliations
  • 1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. [email protected]
PMID: 21333900 DOI: 10.1016/j.gtc.2010.12.011
Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that has been shown to aggregate in families and to affect multiple generations, but not in a manner consistent with a major Mendelian effect. Relatives of an individual with IBS are 2 to 3 times as likely to have IBS, with both genders being affected. To date, more than 100 genetic variants in more than 60 genes from various pathways have been studied in a number of candidate gene studies, with several positive associations reported. These findings suggest that there may be distinct, as well as shared, molecular underpinnings for IBS and its subtypes.