How is this different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Many patients that are diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome actually have the Habba Syndrome.
Patients with the Habba Syndrome do not usually get better with standard IBS therapy such as a high fiber diet, antispasmodics or antidiarrheal agents. In fact, many IBS patients that get post-prandial diarrhea (diarrhea after eating) turn out to have the Habba Syndrome and have failed the standard therapy for IBS including the use of antidepressants and antianxiety drugs.
Characteristics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome versus Habba Syndrome
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome |
Habba Syndrome |
| Associated with abdominal pain/cramps |
No abdominal pain |
Altered bowel habits
(constipation/diarrhea) |
Always post-prandial diarrhea |
| No change with fasting |
Improves with fasting |
| Normal gallbladder function |
Poor gallbladder function |
| Good response to antispasmodics |
Poor response to antispasmodics |
| Unpredictable response to bile acid resins |
Excellent response to bile acid resins |
Am. J. Gastroenterol 2001. 96:600
