Depression with GI symptoms may mean IBD

It has long been recognized that depression can lead to GI symptoms. But do all GI symptoms in the setting of depression mean only depression? A recent study by Jonathan Blackwell et al at St George’s University of London found that depression, in the absence of prior GI symptoms, is not associated with subsequent development

Thoughts on how IBD emerges in developing countries

It has long been noted that rates of IBD increase as nations develop. What drives this increase in “developing” nations, and what factors keep inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) rates high in the West? Gilaad G. Kaplan, MD, of the Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, discusses the epidemiological stages of IBD and reviews how disease

C. dif and IBD patients benefit from FMT

Patients with both Clostridiodes difficile infection and inflammatory bowel disease showed improvement after fecal microbiota transplantation, Jessica Allegretti, MD, director of the FMT program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said during a presentation at Digestive Disease Week. The ICON study took place at four sites across the US. Results for FMT in C. dif alone

Female IBD patients report sexual dysfunction

Nearly all women who were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease reported sexual problems, according to a study at the University of Minnesota that was published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Scores were similar for patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Surprisingly, remission of disease did not alleviate the symptoms, according to the study. “This is

IBD patients may see relief of inflammation with antidepressants

Inflammatory bowel disease patients who take antidepressants may also get relief from their inflammation, according to a study published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. “Apart from improving mood, it is observed that the anti-inflammatory properties of antidepressants may influence the inflammatory response directly,” the authors wrote. “Other research suggests a bidirectional relationship between IBD activity and