New guidelines for management of IBS

The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) has updated its 2002 evidence-based position statement on the Management of IBS in North America.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of the most common disorders managed by gastroenterologists and primary care physicians, and in light of the changes in the clinical landscape relating to IBS therapy in recent years the ACG has decided to update its position statement.
NEW TREATMENTSThe ACG’s updated evidence-based review analyzes multiple new treatments for IBS, including:
Probiotics
Antibiotics including rifaximin
Lubiprostone, and
Emerging therapies for IBS
For the clinical gastroenterologist, the new ACG recommendations specify whether or not these agents are better than placebo for constipation-predominant IBS or diarrhea-predominant IBS.
NEW GRADED RECOMMENDATIONSRecommendations are now made using the GRADE system where graded recommendations take into account:
Strength of study design
Magnitude of benefit of different treatments, and
Balancing the benefits of treatment with the potential risks
NEW RECOMMENDATIONS ON DIAGNOSTIC TESTINGAlso, the evidence-based review includes new recommendations about the use of diagnostic tests for patients who present with IBS symptoms.