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Opportunities of twin research in gastroenterology

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According to a meta-analysis of twin research studies, only a minority addressed gastrointestinal diseases, and mainly IBD and IBS. Here, we discuss similarities and differences between twin research in IBD and IBS, using these diseases as an example of the potential benefits that twin studies can offer gastroenterology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Helios Clinic Rottweil, Rottweil, Germany

    Miriam Goebel-Stengel

  2. Department of Internal Medicine VI: Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Miriam Goebel-Stengel & Paul Enck

  3. Princess Alexandra Hospital, Australian GI Research Alliance (AGIRA), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Gerald Holtmann

Authors
  1. Miriam Goebel-Stengel
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  2. Gerald Holtmann
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  3. Paul Enck
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul Enck.

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Competing interests

M.G.-S. has served as an adviser and speaker for Heel, as a speaker for Schwabe and as an adviser for Yakult. P.E. received an unrestricted grant from SymbioPharm, served as adviser for Allergan, Almirall, AstraZeneca, Boehringer, Biocodex, Ferring, GA, Heel, SymbioPharm, TEVA, and UCB and as speaker for Almirall, Bayer/Steigerwald, Biogene, Boehringer, Chiesi, Heel and Sanofi. G.H. received unrestricted grants from Bayer, Commonwealth Laboratories, Falk Foundation and Takeda and served as speaker for Schwabe.

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MaTCH Meta-Analysis of Twin Correlations and Heritability: http://match.ctglab.nl/#/home

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Goebel-Stengel, M., Holtmann, G. & Enck, P. Opportunities of twin research in gastroenterology. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 15, 325–326 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-018-0002-0

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