Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction: Is There a Connection with Gut Microbiota?

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by severe impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) motility, and its symptoms are suggestive of partial or complete intestinal obstruction in the absence of any lesion restricting the intestinal lumen. Diagnosis and therapy of CIPO patients still represent a significant challenge for clinicians, despite their efforts to improve diagnostic workup and treatment strategies for this disease. The purpose of this review is to better understand what is currently known about the relationship between CIPO patients and intestinal microbiota, with a focus on the role of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and the intestinal endocrine system (IES) in intestinal motility, underling the importance of further studies to deeply understand the causes of gut motility dysfunction in these patients.

Automated summary

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by severe impairment of gastrointestinal motility, posing a significant challenge for diagnosis and therapy. This review aims to explore the relationship between CIPO patients and intestinal microbiota, with a focus on understanding the causes of gut motility dysfunction in these patients. Further studies on the role of the enteric nervous system and the intestinal endocrine system are essential for a deeper understanding of CIPO.