OBJECTIVETo compare the pain thresholds of acupoints in the meridians related to irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) between IBS patients and healthy people.

METHODSThirty-four healthy adults were collected into a normal group,and 60 patients with IBS were arranged into an IBS group. Pain thresholds were detected on the acupoints of large intestinal,small intestinal,stomach,spleen,gallbladder meridians and some commone use acupoints for IBS by pain measuring apparatus three times. Bilateral-well,-spring,-stream,-river,-sea,front-alarm,lower-sea,-primary,-connecting and back-transport points of each meridian were selected as the main acupoints. And pain thresholds of acupoints common used in clinic were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe thresholds of five-transport points and-connecting point of the large intestinal meridian in the IBS group were apparently lower than those in the normal group(all<0.05),with Hegu(LI 4),Tianshu(ST 25),Shangjuxu(ST 37) and Dachangshu(BL 25) more decreasing(all<0.01). The thresholds of five-transport points,front-alarm point and-primary point of the small intestinal meridian in the IBS group were obviously lower than those in the normal group(all<0.05),with Zhizheng(SI 7),Xiajuxu(ST 39) and Xiaochangshu(BL 27) more decreasing(all<0.01). The thresholds of Zusanli(ST 36),Weishu(BL 21),Yanglingquan(GB 34),Danshu(BL 19),Pishu(BL 20),Neiguan(PC 6),Taichong(LR 3),Taixi(KI 3),Sanyinjiao(SP 6) and Qihai(CV 6) in the IBS group were markedly lower than those in the normal group(all<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe pathological changes of IBS often appeared in the stomach,large intestinal,small intestinal,bladder meridians,and some acupoints in the liver,spleen and kidney meridians. When the functions of viscera are abnormal,the pain thresholds of related acupoints tend to decrease,and meridians and acupoints become sensitized from quiet state.