Trastornos funcionales y motores digestivos

Abstract

Functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are difficult to live with. Many patients would prefer to have an organic disease and a medical report stating the results of a test providing evidence of a lesion. Therefore, further knowledge of the causes and treatment of these disorders is essential. The present article aims to summarize as simply and usefully as possible the most important studies on functional and motor GI disorders presented at the Congress of the American Gastroenterological Association (Digestive Disease Week 2010). The most notable presentations concerned the pathogenic mechanisms and search for new therapies in highly prevalent disorders such as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation but interesting studies were also presented on incontinence, gastroparesis, cyclic vomiting syndrome and achalasia. It is increasingly clear that functional GI disorders are caused by multiple factors and, therefore, that genetic, environment, psychological, microinflammatory and neuroimmune-endocrine factors form part of this complex puzzle. Each year, advances are made in distinct parts of the world, which will hopefully improve patient well-being.