The phrase abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders (APFGIDs) has replaced the term recurrent abdominal pain to describe a condition affecting 10%-46% of school age children worldwide. It exerts a tremendous economic, social, and emotional burden and in up to 60% of children progresses into adulthood. Management and treatment are hampered by lack of biomarkers to characterize pathophysiologically what is a phenotypically and arbitrarily defined condition. We propose to study novel GI and serum biomarkers and use measures of psychosocial distress our preliminary data suggest likely characterize a substantial subset of children with APFGIDs. Our study also will provide an innovative and significant new opportunity to understand the pathobiology of APFGIDs. This knowledge likely will lead to more effective management and treatment strategies. Thus, building on our previous work, we propose the following SPECIFIC AIMS: 1) Compare GI permeability and microbiome composition (GI biomarkers) in children (7-12 yr. of age) with APFGIDs (n=150) vs. Healthy Children (HC) (n=75) without abdominal pain. Hypotheses - Children with APFGIDs vs. HC have: H1) Increased GI permeability and H2) A GI microbiome enriched with Gammaproteobacteria and Alistipes. 2) Among children with APFGIDs, compare abdominal pain symptoms (frequency/severity) and psychosocial distress in those with abnormal vs. normal GI biomarkers. Hypotheses - Among APFGID children, those with: H3) Increased GI permeability or H4) A GI microbiome enriched with Gammaproteobacteria/Alistipes will have greater abdominal pain symptoms but less psychosocial distress compared to those with normal permeability or microbiome composition. 3) In children who agree to have blood drawn (70-80% of the sample from Aim 1), compare serum immune markers (lymphocytes and cytokines) in children with APFGIDs versus HC. Sub-aim: explore how changes in serum lymphocytes and cytokine profiles relate to abdominal pain symptoms in children with APFGIDs. Hypotheses: H5) APFGID children will have decreased CD19+/increased CD8+ lymphocytes and an increased proportion of serum proinflammatory cytokines vs. HC;H6) In children with APFGIDs, the degree of immune marker alterations will correlate with abdominal pain symptoms. 4) Explore patterns of associations among biomarkers and differentiation of subgroups. Our multidisciplinary approach addresses NIH Pain Consortium and NINR goals to address a vulnerable population (children), who often go on to become adults with chronic abdominal pain with its attendant cost of medical care (57% greater vs. healthy). Our proposed study is important because health care providers working with patients with APFGIDs are challenged given the underlying pathobiology remains poorly defined and treatments are not universally effective. Our results could shift the paradigm of treatment from one-size-fits-all to targeted management (e.g., probiotics for those with abnormal GI markers and low psychosocial distress).

Public Health Relevance

Abdominal pain functional gastrointestinal disorders (APFGIDs) affect up to 40% of children based on community based studies from around the world and are associated with significant emotional and economic burdens. There is a critical need to understand what factors contribute to pain in these disorders so that effective management and treatment strategies can be designed. The results of this proposal will provide insight into the factors responsible for abdominal pain symptoms to allow better patient-specific treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NR013497-02
Application #
8554319
Study Section
Nursing and Related Clinical Sciences Study Section (NRCS)
Program Officer
Tully, Lois
Project Start
2012-09-27
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$421,671
Indirect Cost
$109,758
Name
Baylor College of Medicine
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
051113330
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Chumpitazi, B P; Kearns, G L; Shulman, R J (2018) Review article: the physiological effects and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional disorders. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 47:738-752
Chumpitazi, Bruno P; Lim, Jongbin; McMeans, Ann R et al. (2018) Evaluation of FODMAP Carbohydrates Content in Selected Foods in the United States. J Pediatr 199:252-255
Cruz, Ligia Alfaro; Kaul, Isha; Zhang, Yan et al. (2018) Assessment of Quality and Readability of Internet Dietary Information on Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol :
Chumpitazi, Bruno Pedro; McMeans, Ann Rhodes; Vaughan, Adetola et al. (2018) Fructans Exacerbate Symptoms in a Subset of Children With Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 16:219-225.e1
Robin, Samantha G; Keller, Catherine; Zwiener, Russell et al. (2018) Prevalence of Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Utilizing the Rome IV Criteria. J Pediatr 195:134-139
Weidler, Erica M; Self, Mariella M; Czyzewski, Danita I et al. (2017) Stooling Characteristics in Children With Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 15:140-141
Varni, James W; Shulman, Robert J; Self, Mariella M et al. (2017) Gastrointestinal symptoms predictors of health-related quality of life in pediatric patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Qual Life Res 26:1015-1025
Hollier, John M; Czyzewski, Danita I; Self, Mariella M et al. (2017) Pediatric Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patient and Parental Characteristics Differ by Care Management Type. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 64:391-395
Chumpitazi, Bruno P; Weidler, Erica M; Czyzewski, Danita I et al. (2017) Childhood Irritable Bowel Syndrome Characteristics Are Related to Both Sex and Pubertal Development. J Pediatr 180:141-147.e1
Chumpitazi, Bruno P; Weidler, Erica M; Shulman, Robert J (2017) Lactulose Breath Test Gas Production in Childhood IBS Is Associated With Intestinal Transit and Bowel Movement Frequency. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 64:541-545

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