Experts Define IBD With IBS-Like Symptoms
Rome Foundation and IOIBD issue joint consensus recommendations on managing persistent symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Nutrition
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The Rome Foundation and International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease published joint consensus recommendations on inflammatory bowel disease with IBS-like symptoms. The guidance addresses persistent symptoms that appear in patients whose disease is in remission.
Why it matters
Lack of standardized definitions and evidence-based management has led to diagnostic ambiguity and potentially unnecessary escalation of IBD therapy. The consensus aims to give clinicians a common framework for care.
An international panel rated 86 of 105 scored statements as appropriate, 16 as uncertain and 3 as inappropriate, using a 9-point scale across two voting rounds. The consensus does not address whether the IBS-like symptoms reflect a distinct disease process, which remains unresolved.
The players
Rome Foundation
A nonprofit organization that develops clinical diagnostic criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders, including the Rome criteria used in this consensus.
International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD)
An international scientific body focused on research and clinical understanding of inflammatory bowel disease.
The details
The guidance proposes the term 'IBD with IBS-like symptoms' and says diagnosis should combine Rome clinical criteria with objective exclusion of inflammation. Recommended therapies include psyllium where no stricture exists, a short-term low-FODMAP diet, targeted drugs and brain-gut behavior therapies.
Timeline
- November 9, 2026: Rome Foundation and IOIBD publish joint consensus recommendations.
Health Landscape
The consensus builds on the Rome criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders and applies them to patients whose inflammatory bowel disease is in remission. It reflects a broader effort to separate persistent symptoms from active inflammation in clinical care.
Patients whose inflammatory bowel disease is in remission but who still have digestive symptoms may be offered diet changes, behavioral therapies or targeted drugs rather than immediate escalation of IBD treatment. The guidance aims to reduce unnecessary treatment changes for these patients.
The takeaway
Persistent IBS-like symptoms in remission do not automatically signal active bowel disease, so clinicians are encouraged to check for inflammation objectively before changing therapy.
Further reading
Explore more on Nutrition to see how diet fits into managing digestive symptoms.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Derm Immuno Today.
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Do you trust doctors to avoid overtreating stomach pain in people with IBD?
