Symptom severity and psychological stress are independent from low-grade inflammation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background: The role of underlying biological processes in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is subject of ongoing discussion. Especially patients with post-infectious onset (PI-IBS) are supposed to have intestinal low-grade inflammation and possibly represent a subgroup with distinct pathophysiology. Aims of the study: to investigate intestinal inflammation in IBS, with special regard to differences between IBS and PI-IBS, and to examine correlations with psychological variables and symptom burden. Methods: N = 44 IBS patients with a mean age of 43,8 ± 15,3 years, 33 (75%) female, were examined in psychological va…