British Society of Gastroenterology Guidelines on the Gut: First Published As 10.1136/Gutjnl-2021-324598 on 26 April 2021
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Guidelines British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the Gut: first published as 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324598 on 26 April 2021. Downloaded from management of irritable bowel syndrome Dipesh H Vasant ,1,2 Peter A Paine,2,3 Christopher J Black ,4,5 Lesley A Houghton ,5,6 Hazel A Everitt,7 Maura Corsetti,8 Anurag Agrawal,9 Imran Aziz ,10,11 Adam D Farmer,12,13 Maria P Eugenicos,14 Rona Moss- Morris,15 Yan Yiannakou,16 Alexander C Ford 4,5 ► Additional supplemental ABSTRACT (abdominal pain or discomfort, in association material is published online Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains one of the most with altered bowel habit, for at least 6 months, only. To view, please visit the journal online (http:// dx. doi. org/ common gastrointestinal disorders seen by clinicians in in the absence of alarm symptoms or signs) is 10. 1136/ gutjnl- 2021- 324598). both primary and secondary care. Since publication of the more pragmatic and may be more applicable to last British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guideline patients with IBS in primary care than diagnostic For numbered affiliations see end of article. in 2007, substantial advances have been made in criteria derived from patients in secondary care, understanding its complex pathophysiology, resulting in such as the Rome IV criteria (recommendation: Correspondence to its re- classification as a disorder of gut- brain interaction, weak, quality of evidence: low). Professor Alexander C Ford, rather than a functional gastrointestinal disorder. ► All patients presenting with symptoms of IBS Leeds Gastroenterology Moreover, there has been a considerable amount of for the first time in primary care should have Institute, St James’s University new evidence published concerning the diagnosis, a full blood count, C reactive protein or eryth- Hospital, Leeds, UK; alexf12399@ yahoo. com investigation and management of IBS. The primary aim rocyte sedimentation rate, coeliac serology of this guideline, commissioned by the BSG, is to review and, in patients <45 years of age with diar- DHV and PAP are joint first and summarise the current evidence to inform and guide rhoea, a faecal calprotectin to exclude inflam- authors. clinical practice, by providing a practical framework for matory bowel disease. Local and national evidence- based management of patients. One of the Received 6 March 2021 guidelines for colorectal and ovarian cancer Revised 30 March 2021 strengths of this guideline is that the recommendations screening should be followed, where indicated Accepted 6 April 2021 for treatment are based on evidence derived from a (recommendation: strong, quality of evidence: comprehensive search of the medical literature, which moderate). was used to inform an update of a series of trial- based ► Clinicians should make a positive diagnosis of and network meta- analyses assessing the efficacy of IBS based on symptoms, in the absence of alarm http://gut.bmj.com/ dietary, pharmacological and psychological therapies symptoms or signs, and abnormalities on simple in treating IBS. Specific recommendations have been blood and stool tests (recommendation: strong, made according to the Grading of Recommendations quality of evidence: moderate). Assessment, Development and Evaluation system, ► Referral to gastroenterology in secondary care summarising both the strength of the recommendations is warranted where there is diagnostic doubt, and the overall quality of evidence. Finally, this guideline in patients with symptoms that are severe, or on September 29, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. identifies novel treatments that are in development, refractory to first- line treatments, or where the as well as highlighting areas of unmet need for future individual patient requests a specialist opinion research. (recommendation: weak, quality of evidence: low). ► There is no role for colonoscopy in IBS, other EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS than in those with alarm symptoms or signs, Doctor-patient communication or those with symptoms suggestive of IBS with ► Establishing an effective doctor- patient rela- diarrhoea who have atypical features and/or tionship and a shared understanding is key to relevant risk factors that increase the likelihood the management of IBS. Such a relationship can of them having microscopic colitis (female sex, lead to improved quality of life and symptoms, age ≥50 years, coexistent autoimmune disease, reduce healthcare visits and enhance adherence nocturnal or severe, watery, diarrhoea, dura- to treatment (recommendation: strong, quality tion of diarrhoea <12 months, weight loss or © Author(s) (or their of evidence: low). use of potential precipitating drugs including employer(s)) 2021. No ► Patients with IBS would like increased empathy, non- steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs, proton commercial re- use. See rights support and information from clinicians about pump inhibitors, etc) (recommendation: strong, and permissions. Published by BMJ. the nature of the condition, diagnosis and quality of evidence: moderate). symptom management options (recommenda- ► In those with symptoms suggestive of IBS with To cite: Vasant DH, Paine PA, tion: strong, quality of evidence: low). diarrhoea, but with atypical features such as Black CJ, et al. Gut Epub ahead of print: [please nocturnal diarrhoea, or a prior cholecystec- include Day Month Year]. Diagnosis, investigation and education tomy, 23- seleno-25- homotaurocholic acid doi:10.1136/ ► The National Institute for Health and scanning or serum 7α-hydroxy-4- cholesten- gutjnl-2021-324598 Care Excellence guideline definition of IBS 3- one should be considered to exclude bile acid Vasant DH, et al. Gut 2021;0:1–27. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324598 1 Guidelines diarrhoea (recommendation: strong, quality of evidence: ► Peppermint oil may be an effective treatment for global low). symptoms and abdominal pain in IBS. Gastro-oesophageal Gut: first published as 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324598 on 26 April 2021. Downloaded from ► In patients with IBS and coexisting symptoms suggestive reflux is a common side effect (recommendation: weak, of a defaecatory disorder or faecal incontinence, anorectal quality of evidence: very low). physiology tests can be considered, where available, to select ► Polyethylene glycol may be an effective treatment for consti- those who might benefit from biofeedback (recommenda- pation in IBS. Abdominal pain is a common side effect tion: weak, quality of evidence: low). (recommendation: weak; quality of evidence: very low). ► There is no role for testing for exocrine pancreatic insuf- ficiency, or for hydrogen breath testing to rule out small Second-line treatments intestinal bacterial overgrowth or carbohydrate intolerance, ► Tricyclic antidepressants used as gut-brain neuromodulators in patients with typical IBS symptoms (recommendation: are an effective second- line drug for global symptoms and strong, quality of evidence: weak). abdominal pain in IBS. They can be initiated in primary or ► The diagnosis of IBS, its underlying pathophysiology and secondary care, but careful explanation as to the rationale the natural history of the condition, including common for their use is required, and patients should be counselled symptom triggers, should be explained to the patient. This about their side- effect profile. They should be commenced at should introduce the concept of IBS as a disorder of gut- a low dose (eg, 10 mg amitriptyline once a day) and titrated brain interaction, together with a simple account of the gut- slowly to a maximum of 30–50 mg once a day (recommen- brain axis and how this is impacted by diet, stress, cognitive, dation: strong, quality of evidence: moderate). behavioural and emotional responses to symptoms, and ► Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors used as gut- brain postinfective changes (recommendation: strong, quality of neuromodulators may be an effective second-line drug for evidence: weak). global symptoms in IBS. As with tricyclic antidepressants, they can be initiated in primary or secondary care, but careful First-line treatments explanation as to the rationale for their use is required, and ► All patients with IBS should be advised to take regular exer- patients should be counselled about their side- effect profile cise (recommendation: strong, quality of evidence: weak). (recommendation: weak, quality of evidence: low). ► First- line dietary advice should be offered to all patients with ► Eluxadoline, a mixed opioid receptor drug, is an efficacious IBS (recommendation: strong, quality of evidence: weak). second- line drug for IBS with diarrhoea in secondary care. ► Food elimination diets based on IgG antibodies are not It is contraindicated in patients with prior sphincter of Oddi recommended in patients with IBS (recommendation: problems or cholecystectomy, alcohol dependence, pancrea- strong, quality of evidence: moderate). titis or severe liver impairment, and lack of availability may ► Soluble fibre, such as ispaghula, is an effective treatment limit its use (recommendation: weak, quality of evidence: for global symptoms and abdominal pain in IBS, but insol- moderate). uble fibre (eg, wheat bran) should be avoided as it may ► 5- Hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonists are efficacious exacerbate symptoms. Soluble fibre should be commenced second- line drugs for IBS with diarrhoea in secondary care. http://gut.bmj.com/ at a low dose (3–4 g/day) and built up gradually to avoid Alosetron and ramosetron are unavailable in many coun- bloating (recommendation: strong; quality of evidence: