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Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency as a Potential Masquerader in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Abstract

Background

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently have meal-related symptoms and can recognize specific trigger foods. Lactose intolerance is a well-established carbohydrate malabsorption syndrome that causes symptoms similar to IBS such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. However, the prevalence of sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (SID) in this population is poorly defined. SID is a condition in which sucrase-isomaltase, an enzyme produced by brush border of small intestine to metabolize sucrose, is deficient. Just like lactase deficiency, SID causes symptoms of maldigestion syndromes including abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. In this study, we aim to determine the prevalence of SID in patients with presumed IBS-D/M and characterize its clinical presentation.

Methods

Patients with a presumed diagnosis of IBS-D/M based on symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or bloating who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with duodenal biopsies and testing for disaccharidase deficiency were included. Patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal malignancy, or celiac disease were excluded. Odds ratio was calculated for abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloating in patients with versus without SID.

Results

A total of 31 patients with clinical suspicion for IBS-D/M were included with a median age of 46 years (IQR 30.5–60) and with 61% females. SID was present in 35% of patients. Among patients with SID, 63.6% had diarrhea, 45.4% had abdominal pain, and 36.4% had bloating. Patients with SID were less likely than controls to have abdominal pain (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03–0.81, p = 0.04) although no difference in diarrhea or bloating was found. Only two patients with SID underwent sucrose breath testing of which only one had a positive result. However, this patient also had a positive glucose breath test and may have had small intestinal bacterial overgrowth as a confounder.

Conclusion

SID was found in 35% of patients with presumed IBS-D/M and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhea, or bloating. Further studies should better characterize the clinical features of SID and investigate the effects of dietary modification in this group of patients.

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Abbreviations

CSID:

Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency

EGD:

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

FODMAP:

Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols

IBS:

Irritable bowel syndrome

IBS C:

Irritable bowel syndrome—constipation predominant

IBS D:

Irritable bowel syndrome—diarrhea predominant

IBS M:

Irritable bowel syndrome—mixed bowel habits

SBT:

Sucrase breath testing

SI:

Sucrase-isomaltase

SID:

Sucrase-isomaltase deficiency

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Funding

Dr. Moshiree has disclosed she received grant funding from QOL Medical, this study was unfunded and investigator initiated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd, Weston, FL, 33331, USA

    Su Bin Kim

  2. Division of Gastroenterology, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, 2000 Washington St, Suite 368, Newton, MA, 02462, USA

    Fernando H. Calmet

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1295 Northwest 14th Street, Miami, FL, 33125, USA

    Jose Garrido

  4. Department of Pathology, Jackson Memorial Health System, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1611 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Monica T. Garcia-Buitrago

  5. Atrium Health, University of North Carolina, 1025 Morehead Medical Dr. Suite 300, Charlotte, NC, 28204, USA

    Baharak Moshiree

Authors
  1. Su Bin Kim
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  2. Fernando H. Calmet
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  4. Monica T. Garcia-Buitrago
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Contributions

SK was involved in writing of manuscript, editing, design of study, and graphs/tables. FC performed statistical data analysis and proofreading manuscript. JG helped with study design, editing, and patient recruitment. MG contributed to pathology review and provided slides. BM performed study design and writing, manuscript editing, patient recruitment, and proofreading.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Baharak Moshiree.

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I testify on behalf of all the co-authors that our article submitted to Digestive Diseases and Sciences above has not previously been published in whole or in part elsewhere and that it is not being considered for publication in another journal. All others have been personally and actively involved in the substantive work leading to the manuscript and will hold themselves jointly and individually responsible for its content.

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Kim, S.B., Calmet, F.H., Garrido, J. et al. Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency as a Potential Masquerader in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Dig Dis Sci 65, 534–540 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-019-05780-7

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