Contents:
- Medical Video: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and What Tests You Should Get
- What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
- The latest check to detect IBS
- Benefits of antibody testing to IBS
Medical Video: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and What Tests You Should Get
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a digestive system disorder that is quite common. Previously, there were no special checks routinely used to identify IBS. As a result, millions of patients undergo many invasive tests (through surgery or inserting tools into the body) such as colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy to diagnose IBS.
In fact, these procedures certainly take time and resources that cannot be said to be small. The longer it is diagnosed, IBS will be more difficult to handle. However, don't worry because now there is a new blood test method that can be used to detect IBS faster.
What is a new blood test that can be done to confirm the diagnosis of IBS in patients? See the full explanation here.
What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive system disorder characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. Changes in bowel habits can be diarrhea or constipation with different symptoms and severity in each patient. Symptoms may last for several days to several months in a period of symptoms.
The incidence of IBS in the community is around 10-20 percent with an increase of 1-2 percent annually. Symptoms of IBS usually appear first when someone is between 20-30 years old. This condition is usually long-term, although symptoms can improve or decrease within a few years.
The latest check to detect IBS
There is a new test that can be used to detect IBS. This examination was developed by a specialist in gastroenterology in the Cedars-Sinai Hospital in the United States (US), namely Dr. Mark Pimentel.
After developing this new blood test for eight years, Dr. Mark finally managed to detect IBS disorders by recognizing special antibodies, namely anti-cdtb and anti-vinculin. Both of these antibodies are produced from reactions to toxins or poisons caused by food poisoning. Toxins can also be produced by Salmonella bacteria and can harm the digestive system because it can damage nerves that are important for normal intestinal function.
To ascertain whether this blood test is accurate enough, Dr. Pimentel and colleagues analyzed nearly 3,000 people aged 18-65 years and compared the results of examinations between study participants who had IBS and healthy participants.
The researchers found that blood tests that identified anti-cdtb and anti-vinculin antibodies had a 90 percent accuracy rate in diagnosing IBS. The number of these antibodies is higher in people with IBS compared with participants who do not have IBS.
Based on the results of these studies, researchers stated that the amount of these antibodies is very helpful in distinguishing IBS from other digestive system diseases. Therefore, a special blood test that can detect two types of antibodies is a breakthrough solution for detecting irritable bowel syndrome.
Benefits of antibody testing to IBS
Dr. Pimentel said that before the test was carried out, patients had to come to the doctor frequently and repeat several tests before they could finally get the right diagnosis. Now, this new, more effective blood test can help patients with IBS get a faster diagnosis. That way, patients will avoid invasive examinations.
In addition, getting a diagnosis early can make many patients immediately get the right therapy for their condition as early as possible.
