Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30483593›Full record

ArticleJGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology2018

Characterization of ulcerative colitis-associated constipation syndrome (proximal constipation).

Sally L James, Daniel R van Langenberg, Kirstin M Taylor, Peter R Gibson

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 29 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. AGA Clinical Practice Update on Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Expert Review.Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association · 2019
    Guideline
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. A Practical Approach in Differentiating IBD From Other Causes of Enterocolitis.JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Clinical features and current treatment approach to ulcerative proctitis.Translational gastroenterology and hepatology · 2025
    Review
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Sally L JamesEastern Health Clinical School, Monash University Box Hill Hospital Box Hill Victoria Australia.
Daniel R van LangenbergEastern Health Clinical School, Monash University Box Hill Hospital Box Hill Victoria Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3662-6307
Kirstin M TaylorDepartment of Gastroenterology Alfred Hospital and Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1010-8504
Peter R GibsonDepartment of Gastroenterology Alfred Hospital and Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9108-1712
Box Hill Hospital · AUMonash University · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe syndrome of constipation with other abdominal symptoms ("proximal constipation") in ulcerative colitis (UC) is commonly recognized by practitioners but is poorly described, with no recognized definition and little understanding with regard to prevalence and effect of therapies on disease outcomes. This study aimed to address these issues in a cross-sectional, consecutive series of patients with UC.

methodsA working definition of proximal constipation was established. Consecutive patients were recruited, and their disease activity, recent medications, and investigations plus abdominal symptoms were assessed at a study visit. Relevant clinical data were also extracted from medical records.

resultsOf 125 patients with UC, (mean age 47, range 14-84 years, 61 male), 58 (46%) fulfilled the definition of proximal constipation. The main symptoms were reduced stool frequency (69%), hard stools (43%), abdominal pain (40%), excessive flatus (29%), straining (24%), and sensation of incomplete emptying (14%). Proximal constipation was associated with female gender (OR 3.45 [1.45-8.24]), left-sided (OR 2.84 [1.14-7.11]) and concurrently active disease (OR 5.56 [1.96-16.67]), but not age, disease duration or therapy. A total of 88% had an increase in anti-inflammatory therapy, with the use of laxatives or fiber supplements in 63% compared with 1.4% of those without proximal constipation.

conclusionsProximal constipation is common, and its risk increases in active and distal disease, especially in women. Validation of its definition and evaluation of therapeutic strategies are needed. A new term "ulcerative colitis-associated constipation syndrome" is proposed to more accurately depict its nature.

Indexed as

anti‐inflammatory therapyconstipationfiberfunctional gastrointestinal disordertransit timeulcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID30483593
PMCPMC6207018
OpenAlexW2886983313

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.