Abstract:
Aim: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder. Urticaria is a disease with papules and
plaques accompanied by pruritus and edema. In this study, the relationship between these two diseases, which have many common
features, was evaluated.
Material and Methods: Patients with urticaria and volunteers who did not have any dermatologic disease were included in the
study. Participants were assessed for diagnosis of IBS according to Rome III diagnostic criteria. In addition, findings supporting IBS
diagnosis, and fecal shape and consistency were evaluated.
Results: Fifty urticaria patients (18 males - 36% and 32 females - 64%) and 70 volunteers (38 males - 54.3% and 32 females - 45.7%)
were evaluated. The mean age of the urticaria group was 34.8 ± 15.0; the mean age of the control group was 25.8 ± 10.9. IBS was
detected in 34 (68%) patients in the urticaria group; and in 22 (31.4%) controls (p <0.001). Diagnosis-supporting findings were more
frequently detected in the group of urticaria (p values respectively: 0.037; < 0.001; 0.036; 0.050). It was observed that the higher the
serum IgE level, the higher the incidence of IBS in chronic urticaria patients ( p: 0.02; eta: 0.206).
Conclusion: IBS was observed more frequently in urticaria patients. Diagnosis-supporting findings for IBS were found more frequently
in urticaria patients. Serum IgE values also seem to be associated with IBS. These results indicate an association between chronic
urticaria and IBS. For this reason, the presence of IBS in patients with chronic urticaria diagnosis should be questioned.
