Abnormal gut motility in inflammatory bowel disease: an update

Background There is substantial evidence linking disturbed gastrointestinal motility to inflammation. Thus, it is not surprising that abnormalities of gastrointestinal motility play a role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affecting patient outcomes. We performed a review of the literature to investigate the relationship between abnormal gut motility and IBD. Methods With an extensive literature search, we retrieved the pertinent articles linking disturbed gut motility to IBD in various anatomical districts. Results The evidence in the literature suggests that abnormal gastrointestinal motility plays a role in the clinical setting of IBD and may confuse the clinical picture. Conclusions Abnormal gut motility may be important in the clinical setting of IBD. However, additional data obtained with modern techniques (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging) are needed to individuate in a more precise manner gastrointestinal motor dysfunctions, to understand the nature of clinical manifestations and properly tailor the treatment of patients.