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Review ArticleCurrent ConceptsFree Preview

Chronic Constipation

List of authors.
  • Anthony Lembo, M.D.,
  • and Michael Camilleri, M.D.

Chronic constipation is a common condition that can be debilitating and difficult to treat. This review explains the physiologic processes involved in colonic transit and defecation. The evaluation of patients is summarized along with current strategies for clinical management.

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Funding and Disclosures

Supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01AT001414, to Dr. Lembo; R01 DK54681 and K24 DK02638, to Dr. Camilleri).

Dr. Camilleri reports having received consulting fees from Johnson and Johnson, TAP, Takeda, and Yamanouchi and grant support from Alizyme, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Johnson and Johnson, Merck, and VSL. Dr. Lembo reports having received consulting fees from Janssen Pharmaceutical and Schwartz Pharmaceutical and lecture fees and grant support from AstraZeneca and Janssen Pharmaceutical.

We are indebted to Dr. Ciaran Kelly for review of the manuscript and to Tracey Lembo for editorial assistance.

Author Affiliations

From the Gastroenterology Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston (A.L.); and the Gastroenterology Division, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. (M.C.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Lembo at the Gastroenterology Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dana 501, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, or at .

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