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. 2017 Jul 30;23(3):409-414.
doi: 10.5056/jnm16103.

Belching in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Impedance Study

Tuba Obekli  1 , Filiz Akyuz  2 , Umit Akyuz  3 , Serpil Arici  2 , Raim İliaz  2 , Suut Gokturk  2 , Sami Evirgen  2 , Bilger Cavus  2 , Cetin Karaca  2 , Kadir Demir  2 , Fatih Besisik  2 , Sabahattin Kaymakoglu  2
Affiliations

Belching in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Impedance Study

Tuba Obekli et al. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. .

Abstract

Background/aims: There are limited data about the relation between belching and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aim to evaluate belching in patients with IBS.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with IBS and 12 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. IBS was diagnosed in accordance with the Rome III criteria. All patients were questioned about the presence of symptoms for belching, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and dyspepsia. Esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH-impedance were performed in all patients and healthy volunteers. Each of the patients with IBS underwent gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

Results: Demographic features were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). The belching rate was 32% in patients with IBS. The mean DeMeester score was significantly higher in IBS patients (13.80 ± 14.40 vs 6.04 ± 5.60, P = 0.027) and 24% of patients had pathologic acid reflux (DeMeester score > 14). Gastroscopy was normal in all patients. Symptom association probability positivity was detected in 24% of patients in the impedance study. The rate of weak acid reflux was also significantly higher in patients with IBS (97.00 ± 56.20 vs 58.20 ± 29.30, P = 0.025). The number of supine gas reflux (7.50 ± 6.40 vs 2.42 ± 2.80, P = 0.001) and supragastric belches was significantly higher in patients with IBS (51.20 ± 41.20 vs 25.08 ± 15.20, P = 0.035). Although the number of gastric belching was higher in controls, the difference did not reach statistical significance (12.10 ± 17.60 vs 4.90 ± 3.80, P = 0.575). We did not find any correlation between belching and any symptoms of IBS.

Conclusions: Belching is frequent in patients with IBS. Non-erosive reflux disease is frequent in IBS, which may be related to supragastric belching.

Keywords: Belching; Gastroesophageal reflux; Impedance; Irritable bowel syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Supragastric belching (arrows show the direction of belching) and weak acid reflux with supragastric belching.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Repetitive belching (arrows show the direction) and acid reflux with the last belching.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Positive correlation was detected between supragastric belch and total number of weak acid reflux events (P = 0.001, r = 0.731).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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