ACP InternistMore Tools Available for Treating IBS

The American Journal of Gastroenterology published the ACG clinical guideline on the management of IBS in January 2021. Lead author gastroenterologist Brian E. Lacy, MD, PhD, says that to diagnose IBS, clinicians should take a careful history, perform a careful physical exam, use Rome IV criteria, and perform limited diagnostic testing (complete blood count, C-reactive protein, and possibly celiac serologies and fecal calprotectin, depending on symptoms). Regardless of whether a patient has constipation-predominant symptoms, diarrhea-predominant symptoms, or a combination of constipation and diarrhea, the first step is to classify the patient into a mild, moderate, or severe IBS category.