Background
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by a mutation in or a deletion of the neurofibromin gene on chromosome 17q11.2, causing inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene neurofibromin [1]. The prevalence of NF1 is 1:3000 [2]. Clinical and diagnostic features of NF1 include café au lait macules, cutaneous or plexiform neurofibromas, axillary and inguinal freckling, optic glioma, Lisch nodules and distinctive osseous lesions, such as sphenoid dysplasia or pseudoarthrosis [3]. The NF1 phenotype shows great variability with both intra-family and inter-family expressivity [4]. Thus, some patients have only mild cutaneous manifestations while others have multi-organic involvement. Apart from the physical features, common findings in patients with NF1 are slight mental impairment, learning disabilities and behavioral symptoms [5].
Studies on the gastrointestinal function in patients with NF1 are very rare. In a previous pilot study, we found that children with NF1 had abnormally large rectal diameters and a higher proportion than expected had prolonged colonic transit time [6]. A retrospective assessment of 126 children concluded that an abdominal migraine could be a significant cause of abdominal pain in children with NF1 [7]. For the present study, we hypothesized that adult patients with NF1 have an increased prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms. The aim was to compare the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in adults with NF1 and a control group consisting of their relatives without NF1.
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Methods
Participants
Patients with NF1 were recruited from the outpatient clinic at the Centre for Rare Diseases (CRD), Department of Paediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, which is one of two Danish National Centres of Expertise for NF1. The centre takes care of all aspects of NF1, regardless of the patient’s age, income and disease severity. Patients were included if they fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of NF1 established by the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference [3] and were 18 years or older. At the start of the project in December 2015, the 268 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were invited to participate between December 2015 and July 2016. The control group comprised relatives without NF1; a partner, a sibling or a parent and who was 18 years or older with no diagnosis of NF1. A total of 125 relatives were invited to participate. The invitations included a link to an online questionnaire and were issued to the eligible patients and their respective relatives during a) the patient’s regular visits to the CRD or b) by letter to the patients who were not scheduled to attend the CRD during the recruitment period. Patients and controls were excluded if they had undergone major abdominal surgery or had known disease affecting their bowel function.
Protocol
The study was based on the self-administered, validated, Rome® III diagnostic questionnaires comprehensively investigating GI symptoms via the three questionnaire modules; functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation. It is possible to score and correlate them to the following adult functional GI disorders: functional dyspepsia, IBS, functional constipation, postprandial distress syndrome, epigastric pain syndrome and functional gallbladder, sphincter Oddi disorders and functional defecation disorders [8]. Furthermore, an additional questionnaire described the usage of medicine, exercise, organic GI disease, and major abdominal surgery, the last two being a reason for exclusion. The participants were introduced to the confidentiality procedures and to the use of the questionnaires by the first author. The patients participated on even terms but reading assistance was needed for 17 patients who showed problems with reading or understanding words (n = 15), had dyslexia (n = 1) or was blind (n = 1).
The Rome® questionnaire had been translated from English to Danish accordingly to the guidelines displayed on the Rome Foundation website [9] in the year 2014; a process of six translators active in forward translation, reconciliation, backward translation and finally a consensus meeting was held. Informed consent was collected from patients. Details that might identify the participants have been omitted. The study was approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency (1–16–02-271-15). According to the Ethics Committee of Denmark, no approval was needed for this questionnaire-based investigation.
Data analysis
We scored the questionnaires accordingly to the Rome III scoring algorithm devised by the Rome Foundation® for functional dyspepsia, postprandial distress syndrome, epigastric pain syndrome, functional gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi disorders, IBS including subtypes, functional constipation, and functional defecation disorders. Study data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted at the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University. REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based application designed to support data capture for research studies [10].
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Statistical analyses were performed with Stata 12 software (StataCorp, College Station, TX). Median and interquartile range of the age were reported in each group and the groups were compared using a permutation test for Mann-Whitney for continuous variables. The variables gender, regular exercise and the usage of laxatives in each group were reported as frequencies and the groups were compared using chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to estimate the prevalence of functional dyspepsia, IBS and functional constipation in patients and controls. The groups were compared using their odds ratios (ORs). The crude prevalence and the crude and adjusted ORs were reported along with their 95% confidence intervals. Specific gastrointestinal symptoms in each group were reported as frequencies and the groups were compared using chi-square test. No corrections were made for the multiple comparisons. Participants from the same family were assumed to be more homogeneous than those from the other family and hence the between-family variation was taken into account in the logistic regression model.
Results
A total of 178 patients (66.4%) and 103 controls (82.4%) responded. Three participants in the NF1 group were excluded due to inflammatory bowel disease (n = 2) or colonic cancer (n = 1). Two participants in the control group were excluded due to inflammatory bowel disease (n = 2) and ten controls were omitted from the analyses since the information on the family association was lost during the data collection. For basic characteristics on age, gender, exercise and the usage of laxatives on the 175 patients and the 91 controls, see Table 1. When compared to the participating patients the patients who declined to participate were younger, median age 28.2 (IQR = 18.5) (p = 0.013) but did not differ in gender (p = 0.160). When compared to the participating controls, the relatives who declined to participate did not differ in gender (p = 0.095), whereas there was no record of the age of those not responding.
Table 1
Basic characteristics of patients and controls
NF1 patients (n = 175) | Controls (n = 91) |
p-value
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Age, median (IQR) | 34.2 (20.6) | 42.0 (12) | 0.001 |
Gender, female, n (%) | 109 (62%) | 41 (45%) | 0.007 |
Regular exercise, n (%) | 55 (31.4%) | 38 (41.8%) | 0.094 |
Usage of laxatives, n (%) | 8 (4.6%) | 5 (5.6%) | 0.187 |
Gastrointestinal symptoms
The proportion of participants fulfilling the criteria for at least one of the three most common functional gastrointestinal disorders (functional dyspepsia, IBS or functional constipation) was 33.1% in the patient group vs. 14.3% the control group, see Table 2.
Table 2
The prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders within the groups and compared using the odds ratios
NF1 patients (n = 175) | Controls (n = 91) | Odds ratio, p, crude | Odds ratio, p, adjusted for age and gender | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Functional gastrointestinal disordera
| 33.1% (CI: 26.2–40.1) | 14.3% (CI: 7.7–20,8) | 2.97 (CI: 1.56–5.66), 0.001 | 3.06 (CI: 1.62–5.79), 0.001 |
Functional constipation | 14.9% (CI: 9.6–20.1) | 4.4% (CI: 0.02–8.6) | 3.80 (CI: 1.27–11.31), 0.017 | 3.49 (CI: 1.14–10.64), 0.028 |
Irritable bowel syndrom | 16.0% (CI: 10.6–21.4) | 7.7% (CI: 0.03–12.9) | 2.29 (CI: 0.98–5.33), 0.056 | 2.46 (CI: 1.10–5.47), 0.028 |
Functional dyspepsia | 7.4% (CI: 3.5–11.3) | 3.3% (CI: 0–6.9) | 2.35 (CI: 0.67–8.32), 0.184 | 2.25 (CI: 0.70–7.17), 0.170 |
Upper gastrointestinal symptoms
The specific upper gastrointestinal symptoms described in the questionnaire are shown in Table 3. There was no difference in the proportion fulfilling the criteria for functional dyspepsia (patients 7.4% (n = 13) and controls 3.3% (n = 3)), see Table 2. The proportion fulfilling the criteria for postprandial distress syndrome was 5/175 among patients vs. 1/91 among controls (p = 0.360). In both groups, none fulfilled the criteria for epigastric pain syndrome or functional gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi disorders.
Table 3
The prevalence for specific symptoms of functional dyspepsia
NF1 patients (n = 175) | Controls (n = 91) |
p
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain or discomfort in the middle of the chest (not related to heart problems) | 13.7% (CI: 9.0–19.7) | 6.6% (CI: 2.5–13.8) | 0.082 |
Heartburn | 12.6% (CI: 8.0–18.4%) | 9.8% (CI: 4.6–17.9) | 0.518 |
Feeling uncomfortably full after a regular sized meal | 17.1% (CI: 11.9–23.6) | 4.4% (CI: 1.2–10.9) | 0.003 |
Unable to finish a regular size meal | 18.3% (CI: 12.9–24.8) | 4.4% (CI: 1.2–10.9) | 0.002 |
Pain or burning in the middle of the abdomen | 5.7% (CI: 2.8–10.3) | 3.3% (CI: 0.6–9.3) | 0.386 |
Lower gastrointestinal symptoms
The specific symptoms described in the questionnaire are shown in Tables 4 and 5. The proportion fulfilling the criteria for functional constipation was significant higher in patients (patients 14.9% (n = 26) and controls 4.4% (n = 4)), see Table 2. The proportion fulfilling the criteria for IBS was in patients 16.0% (n = 28) and in controls 7.7% (n = 7), see Table 2. There was no difference in IBS subtypes; IBS with constipation (patients 21% (n = 6) and controls 14%(n = 1) (p = 0.260)), IBS with diarrhea (patients 32% (n = 9) and controls 57%(n = 4), (p = 0.790)), mixed IBS (patients 39% (n = 11) and controls 14% (n = 1), (p = 0.055)), and un-subtyped IBS (patients 7% (n = 2) and controls 14% (n = 1), (p = 0.380)). Among the patients and controls with constipation 65% (n = 17) and 25% (n = 1), (p = 0.125), respectively, were identified as cases who would require further investigation to confirm functional defecation disorders.
Table 4
The prevalence for specific symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
NF1 patients (n = 175) | Controls (n = 91) |
p
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Discomfort or pain anywhere in the abdomen? a
| 35.2% (CI: 25.2–39.5) | 16.5% (CI: 9.5–25.7) | 0.007 |
Discomfort or pain get better or stop after a bowel movement? | 25.1% (CI: 18.9–32.2) | 4.3% (CI: 14.0–31.9) | 0.567 |
More frequent bowel movements when discomfort or pain | 6.3% (CI: 3.2–11.0) | 7.7% (CI: 3.1–15.2) | 0.665 |
Less frequent bowel movements when discomfort or pain | 12.7% (CI: 8.0–18.4) | 8.9 (CI: 3.9–16.6) | 0.355 |
Looser stools when discomfort or pain | 13.1% (CI: 8.5–19.0) | 7.7% (CI: 3.1–15.2) | 0.183 |
Harder stools when discomfort or pain | 11.4% (CI: 7.1–17.1) | 2.2% (CI: 0.3–7.7) | 0.010 |
Often hard or lumpy stools | 14.3% (CI: 9.5–20.4) | 4.4% (CI: 1.2–10.9) | 0.014 |
Often loose, mushy or watery stools | 13.7% (CI: 9.0–19.7) | 8.8% (CI: 3.9–16.6) | 0.242 |
Table 5
The prevalence for specific symptoms of functional constipation
NF1 patients (n = 175) | Controls (n = 91) |
p
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Fewer than three bowel movements a week | 10.9% (CI: 6.7–16.4) | 2.2% (CI: 2.7–7.7) | 0.013 |
Hard or lumpy stools | 15.4% (CI: 10.4–21.6) | 2.2% (CI: 2.7–7.7) | 0.001 |
Straining during bowel movements | 17.7% (CI: 12.3–24.2) | 5.5% (CI: 1.8–12.4) | 0.006 |
Feeling of incomplete emptying after bowel movements | 20.6% (CI: 14.8–27.3) | 9.9% (CI: 4.6–17.9) | 0.028 |
Sensation that the stool cannot be passed, (i.e. blocked) | 13.1% (CI: 8.5–19.1) | 2.2% (CI: 2.7–7.7) | 0.004 |
Press on or around bottom or remove stool in order to complete a bowel movement | 4.6% (CI: 2.0–8.8) | 0% | - |
Difficulty relaxing or letting go during a bowel movement | 10.3% (CI: 6.2–17.8) | 2.2% (CI: 2.7–7.7) | 0.018 |
Discussion
The present study provides the first systematically collected data on gastrointestinal symptoms among adults with NF1. The patients had a higher prevalence of symptoms usually characterized as functional gastrointestinal disorders. Overall, their likelihood of fulfilling the criteria for functional constipation, IBS, or functional dyspepsia was higher with an OR of three compared to their relatives without NF1. For each of the three conditions functional dyspepsia, IBS and chronic functional constipation, adults with NF1 had a higher likelihood of IBS after adjustment and a markedly higher both crude and adjusted likelihood of functional constipation compared to their relatives.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders are common in the general population. In our study, we explored and assessed the GI symptoms as functional gastrointestinal disorders, which enables us to compare the results to the literature. The prevalence of subjects fulfilling the criteria for functional constipation was 14.9% among adults with NF1 and 4.4% among relatives. In comparable studies using the Rome III criteria, prevalence rates in the general population of 4–7.6% are reported [11‐13]. Thus, the occurrence of GI symptoms corresponding to functional constipation seems higher among adults with NF1, both when compared to their relatives and to the general population. In our group of adults with NF1, the prevalence of IBS was 16.0%. This is close to the prevalence found in two other Danish studies using the Rome III criteria in a self-administrated questionnaire to define IBS. One study found a prevalence of 16% among 18–50-year olds and another found a prevalence of 10.5%. Even though the prevalence of functional dyspepsia (7.4%) is close to that in the background population (7.7%) [14], early satiety was more common in adults with NF1 than in controls. This could indicate delayed gastric emptying, either primary or secondary to constipation.
The strengths of our study are that all the invited patients have been assessed and given the diagnosis NF1 by a specialist physician at our center; the use of standardized and validated questionnaires used for collection of data; and the use of relatives as controls by which variations in eating habits as a probable reason for differences should be minimized. Additionally, access to the Danish health system is free which means that patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds representing all NF1 severity grades are followed at our centre. The latter reduces the risk of selection bias.
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The study has some limitations. Differences in socioeconomic factors that make eating habits and the intensity of exercise susceptible cannot be excluded nor can unidentified morbidity of the patients. The Rome criteria define functional dyspepsia given that organic disease of the esophagus and the stomach has been excluded with a gastroscopy. Our knowledge of organic upper GI disease is limited to the information from participants given in the questionnaires and the patients’ medical files. The prevalence of functional constipation is greater among women and increases with age [11], and since the proportion of females were higher among patients and the controls were older than the patients we took the differences in age and gender into account in the analysis and reported adjusted ORs.
The present study comprising adults with NF1 was inspired by our previous pilot study among children with NF1 [6]. In that study, children with NF1 had a higher prevalence of constipation, abnormally large diameter of the rectum and a larger proportion than expected had prolonged colorectal transit time. This may indicate that constipation develops early in the life of patients with NF1, and may be a lifelong illness if not addressed. Presumably, patients with NF1 are undertreated since 14.9% of patients were found constipated but only 4.6% patients were using laxatives. A study on gastrointestinal symptoms in children and adolescents with NF1 is awaited and further studies should focus on treatment of constipation and consecutive measurements of constipation characteristics.
The pathophysiology behind a higher prevalence of GI symptoms predominantly correlated to constipation in NF1 is unknown. If constipation develops early in life as indicated by our previous pilot study, we would expect that it is caused by NF1 per se. This makes the term “functional” misleading with respect to bowel symptoms in NF1. It is well established that patients with NF1 often have abnormalities within the nervous system. Abnormalities within the enteric, the peripheral or the central nervous system could cause chronic constipation. Further studies are needed to determine whether constipation in NF1 is mainly associated with prolonged transit through the colon, blunted rectoanal reflexes or by a hyposensate rectum. However, the high prevalence of early satiety found in our group of patients with NF1 could indicate a generalized gastrointestinal motility disorder.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we found that adults with NF1 have a higher likelihood of having symptoms of constipation (adjusted OR 3.5). This deserves further attention in future studies and in clinical practice. Constipation has consequences for quality of life [15]. Thus, professionals taking care of patients with NF1 should be aware of gastrointestinal symptoms.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful for the assistance from Bias, biostatistical advisory service, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Funding
Aarhus University, Health. NF Denmark - The Danish NF patient association. The Danish Medical Research Grant. The funding bodies have had no role in the design of the study, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data nor in the writing of the manuscript.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are not publicly available due ongoing studies on the datasets since the current study is a part of a thesis but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The study was approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency (1–16–02-271-15). Informed consent was collected from patients. According to the Ethics Committee of Denmark, no approval was needed for this questionnaire-based investigation.
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Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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