Dysplasia of the submucous nerve plexus in slow-transit constipation of adults

AIM METHODS RESULTSThere were no major differences between patients and controls, except that patients had slightly thicker submucosal nerves than controls (30.8 ± 1.6 versus 25.5 ± 2.0 μm, P < 0.05) and more frequent heterotopic ganglion cells (32 versus 6%, P< 0.05). Neither discriminant analysis of the morphometric data nor subjective evaluation was able to correctly classify the slides as originating from patients or controls. CONCLUSIONSThe existence of the clinicopathological entity IND in adults with slow-transit constipation is unlikely. For further classification of slow-transit constipation, rectal biopsies do not appear to be useful at present. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 12:755-759