Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Patients with Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Abstract

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort, in association with altered bowel habit. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are two communicable diseases in which there have been increases in related morbidity and mortality over the past 20 years.
Objective: Our study aimed to investigate a possible association between IBS as one of psychosomatic disorders and chronic viral hepatitis and to follow up the improvement of patients’ condition after management.
Patients and Methods: A prospective case-control study included 481 consecutive patients attending the outpatient clinic and were all applied to IBS questionnaire. They were divided into three groups: HCV cases (n = 246), HBV cases (n = 183) and co-infection cases (n = 52), in addition to normal control cases (n = 145).
Results: Prevalence of IBS was 17.24% in normal individuals who were included as control group. The highest prevalence of IBS was seen among HCV cases (45.53%), followed by cases with combined HCV and HBV infection (30.77%), then cases with isolated HBV (24.59%). There was a significant relation between IBS and chronic hepatitis which means that IBS prevalence was higher among chronic hepatitis cases. The improvement of IBS symptoms was significantly better among HBV cases who received antiviral treatment but that wasn’t the same among HCV cases who received antiviral treatment.
Conclusions: There is a significant relation between IBS and chronic hepatitis, as IBS prevalence was higher among chronic hepatitis cases than general population. Young adult patients with chronic HCV with a previous history of psychiatric symptoms are more likely to have IBS.