TY - JOUR
T1 - Increased urine catecholamines and cortisol in women with irritable bowel syndrome
AU - Heitkemper, Margaret
AU - Jarrett, Monica
AU - Cain, Kevin
AU - Shaver, Joan
AU - Bond, Eleanor
AU - Woods, Nancy Fugate
AU - Walker, Edward
PY - 1996/5
Y1 - 1996/5
N2 - Objectives: There are few data on the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in individuals with chronic GI symptoms. The current study was designed to describe and compare urine catecholamine (norepinephrine, epinephrine) and cortisol levels in women diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-patients), women who report similar symptom levels but had not sought health care services (IBS-nonpatients; IBS-NP), and asymptomatic (control) women. Methods: Seventy-three women (24 IBS; 24 IBS- NP; 25 controls) were interviewed for demographic, GI, gynecological, and psychological data and then followed fur two menstrual cycles with a daily health diary. Urine samples were obtained in the evening and morning at specific phases across two menstrual cycles. Results: Women in the IBS group had significantly higher PM and AM urine norepinephrine levels. Urine epinephrine and cortisol levels were also generally higher in women with IBS. Differences in neuroendocrine indicators of arousal were not accounted for by differences in demographic variables, lifestyle characteristics, menstrual distress, or average daily measures of anxiety or depression. Conclusions: Increases in indicators of sympathetic nervous system activation in women seeking health care for IBS may reflect greater symptom distress or may contribute to increased symptom distress.
AB - Objectives: There are few data on the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in individuals with chronic GI symptoms. The current study was designed to describe and compare urine catecholamine (norepinephrine, epinephrine) and cortisol levels in women diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-patients), women who report similar symptom levels but had not sought health care services (IBS-nonpatients; IBS-NP), and asymptomatic (control) women. Methods: Seventy-three women (24 IBS; 24 IBS- NP; 25 controls) were interviewed for demographic, GI, gynecological, and psychological data and then followed fur two menstrual cycles with a daily health diary. Urine samples were obtained in the evening and morning at specific phases across two menstrual cycles. Results: Women in the IBS group had significantly higher PM and AM urine norepinephrine levels. Urine epinephrine and cortisol levels were also generally higher in women with IBS. Differences in neuroendocrine indicators of arousal were not accounted for by differences in demographic variables, lifestyle characteristics, menstrual distress, or average daily measures of anxiety or depression. Conclusions: Increases in indicators of sympathetic nervous system activation in women seeking health care for IBS may reflect greater symptom distress or may contribute to increased symptom distress.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 8633579
AN - SCOPUS:0029988964
SN - 0002-9270
VL - 91
SP - 906
EP - 913
JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 5
ER -