New horizons in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal neuromuscular disease

The term gastrointestinal neuromuscular disease can be interpreted variably and encompasses a spectrum of paediatric and adult conditions including achalasia, pseudoobstruction, idiopathic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, megacolon, and Hirschsprung disease. Although progress has been made in the understanding of the pathophysiology of some conditions, the aetiopathogenesis has been elucidated only in the rare minority. This review critically considers the available evidence for possible pathogenic mechanisms in these disorders.