New gut-brain criteria clarify cannabis-related vomiting disorders

Rome V: minimizing "functional", maximizing precision in gut-brain disorders.

Revista espanola de enfermedades digestivas โ€ข โ€ข Related
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AI Summary

Rome V proposes replacing the vague label functional gastrointestinal disorders with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI). This change emphasizes that symptoms are real and can arise from altered gut-brain regulation, visceral sensitivity, motility, immune and mucosal activity, microbiota, autonomic function, and central processing. The abstract reports no quantitative results, but presents Rome V as a framework intended to reduce stigma and improve diagnostic precision.

The updated criteria refine several conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, bloating, anorectal disorders, and meal-related symptoms in dyspepsia. For cannabis users, an important practical point is the clearer distinction between cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome and other causes of chronic nausea and vomiting, such as gastroparesis or cyclic vomiting syndrome. However, the abstract does not evaluate cannabis treatments, establish causes of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or provide new clinical outcomes.

๐Ÿ’ก Key Findings

1
Rome V moves away from the stigmatizing term functional and frames these conditions as real disorders of gut-brain interaction involving biological mechanisms.
High
80%
2
The framework improves diagnostic precision across esophageal, gastroduodenal, bowel, and anorectal conditions, including the use of objective testing for dyssynergic defecation.
High
80%
3
For cannabis users, Rome V more clearly distinguishes cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome from other causes of chronic nausea and vomiting, but the abstract reports no treatment or outcome data.
Good
75%
4
The authors identify implementation, patient communication, avoidance of reductionism, and mechanism-based research as important challenges for future clinical practice.
Good
75%

๐Ÿ“„ Original Abstract

Rome V represents a major conceptual and clinical evolution in the field of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI). Its most important contribution is the deliberate move away from the term "functional", a label that has often implied that symptoms are less real, less biological, or merely psychological. By emphasizing DGBI, Rome V reframes these conditions as positive diagnoses arising from altered gut-brain regulation, visceral sensitivity, motility, mucosal and immune mechanisms, microbiota, autonomic function, and central processing. Beyond terminology, Rome V introduces greater diagnostic precision. In esophageal disorders, the exclusion of gastroesophageal reflux disease and major motor disorders is aligned with Lyon Consensus 2.0 and Chicago Classification v4.0, while globus and functional chest pain are refined to avoid unnecessary interventions. In gastroduodenal disorders, functional dyspepsia is better phenotyped according to meal-related symptoms, with clearer distinctions from chronic nausea and vomiting syndrome, gastroparesis, cyclic vomiting syndrome, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, rumination, and inability to belch. In bowel disorders, Rome V reintroduces abdominal discomfort into IBS criteria, changes the symptom frequency threshold, renames functional constipation as chronic constipation, and redefines abdominal bloating/distension. The anorectal section is particularly relevant because it operationalizes fecal incontinence, defines dyssynergic defecation using objective testing, and formally recognizes rectal hypo- and hypersensitivity, which may guide biofeedback therapy. Rome V also raises future challenges: implementation in clinical practice, patient-centered communication, avoidance of reductionism, development of mechanism-based research, and interpretation of forthcoming epidemiological data. Overall, Rome V promotes precision, reduces stigma, and supports more rational, mechanism-based care.

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