慢性腹痛是指腹部持续 6 个月及以上的持续性或间断性不适。疼痛可能来自任何系统,包括泌尿生殖系统、胃肠道(gastrointestinal, GI)或妇产科疾病。慢性腹痛的病因非常多,这里只总结了一些较常见的病因。并非所有腹痛都存在与解剖结构或其他基础病变的明确关联。
分类
慢性腹痛从病因学上可以分为器质性和功能性两种。前者有明确的解剖、生理或代谢方面的病因。尽管进行仔细的诊断性评估,但原因仍不明的慢性腹痛,通常称为功能性失调。功能性腹痛被认为源于多因素内脏超敏反应和动力功能障碍以及脑肠轴功能改变。[1]Korterink J, Devanarayana NM, Rajindrajith S, et al. Childhood functional abdominal pain: mechanisms and management. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015 Mar;12(3):159-71.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25666642?tool=bestpractice.com
相较于急性腹痛而言,慢性腹痛更难找到明确的病变器官。 急性腹痛一般都有突然出现的生理学的改变,例如空腔脏器的梗阻或穿孔、感染、膨胀或缺血等。
流行病学
慢性腹痛在初级卫生保健机构和亚专科门诊常见。非特异性腹痛的发病率为 22.3 例/1000 人年。[2]Wallander MA, Johansson S, Ruigomez A, et al. Unspecified abdominal pain in primary care: the role of gastrointestinal morbidity. Int J Clin Pract. 2007 Oct;61(10):1663-70.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17681003?tool=bestpractice.com
据报告患病率为 8%-54%。[3]Heading RC. Prevalence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the general population: a systematic review. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl. 1999;231:3-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10565617?tool=bestpractice.com
一项针对美国成人的横断面调查显示,一般人群的患病率为 21.8%。[4]Sandler RS, Stewart WF, Liberman JN, et al. Abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea in the United States: prevalence and impact. Dig Dis Sci. 2000 Jun;45(6):1166-71.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10877233?tool=bestpractice.com
女性比男性更可能报告有慢性腹痛。[4]Sandler RS, Stewart WF, Liberman JN, et al. Abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea in the United States: prevalence and impact. Dig Dis Sci. 2000 Jun;45(6):1166-71.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10877233?tool=bestpractice.com
儿童功能性腹痛的患病率为 13.5%。[5]Korterink JJ, Diederen K, Benninga MA, et al. Epidemiology of pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2015 May 20;10(5):e0126982.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0126982
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25992621?tool=bestpractice.com
由于慢性腹痛的诊治经经常很困难,医患双方时常无法得到满意的结果。导致这一情况的因素很多,包括病史不清、查体结果的敏感性低、鉴别诊断涉及几个专科,以及诊断性病情检查结果经常呈阴性。
流行病学研究发现非常多的慢性腹痛患者有功能性的胃肠道功能失调,类似于肠激惹综合征或功能性的消化不良。[6]Talley NJ, Weaver AL, Zinsmeister AR, et al. Onset and disappearance of gastrointestinal symptoms and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Jul 15;136(2):165-77.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1415139?tool=bestpractice.com
[7]Ford AC, Marwaha A, Lim A, et al. What is the prevalence of clinically significant endoscopic findings in subjects with dyspepsia? Systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010 Oct;8(10):830-7.e2.
https://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(10)00563-X/fulltext
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20541625?tool=bestpractice.com
[8]Keefer L, Drossman DA, Guthrie E, et al. Centrally mediated disorders of gastrointestinal pain. Gastroenterology. 2016 May;150(6):1408-19.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27144628?tool=bestpractice.com
然而,和这些功能失调相关的疼痛往往都是非特异性的,有些很类似于器质性的病变,有时还会和器质性的病变并存。