Familial association of autonomic and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Autonomic dysfunction occurs in the adult population with irritable bowel syndrome, but this association is not recognized in children. A mother and son with functional abdominal pain unresponsive to conventional treatment had complete resolution of symptoms with treatment directed at the autonomic dysfunction identified by testing. The authors recommend autonomic testing in patients with functional abdominal pain and suggest that autonomic dysfunction plays a direct and intrinsic role in the mechanism of these disorders and their symptoms.