Increased rectal mucosal enteroendocrine cells, T lymphocytes, and increased gut permeability following acute Campylobacter enteritis and in post-dysenteric irritable bowel syndrome

Post-dysenteric irritable bowel syndrome (PD-IBS) develops in up to 25% of patients following Campylobacter enteritis. Our aim was to define the pathological basis of this subgroup of IBS. Twenty one patients (group 1) underwent serial rectal biopsy and gut permeability testing following acute Campylobacter enteritis as did 10 PD-IBS patients (group 2) and 12 asymptomatic controls. In group 1, enteroendocrine cell (EC) numbers were markedly increased initially and at six and 12 weeks (p