To explore the changes of gut hormones in various TCM Syndrome types of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and its significance. Ninety-four patients with IBS

whose diagnosis conformed to the Rome TJ diagnostic standard

were divided into three groups according to TCM Syndrome typing

i.e. the 42 patients in the Liver-Stagnancy with Spleen Deficiency (LSSD) group

30 in the Spleen-Stomach Deficiency (SSD) group and 22 in the Spleen-Stomach Yin-Deficiency (SSYD) group. Plasma contents of neuro-peptide Y (NPY)

substance P(SP)

vascular active intestinal peptide (VIP) and pancreatic glucagon (Glu) of patients were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA)

and compared with those of the healthy persons. Blood contents of VIP and Glu in LSSD patients were higher than thosein the healthy control

NPY and SP were similar to thosein the healthy control

while NPY was higher and SP lower than that of SSYD patients respectively. In the SSD group

VIP and Glu.were higher than those of the healthy control

SP was lower than that in the control and in SSYD group

and NPY was different from the control insignificantly. In the SSYD group

SP and Glu was higher and NPY lower than those of control

while VIP was not significantly different from the control. Some changes of gut hormones were presented in patients with IBS of various TCM Syndrome types

among them

the changes of NPY and SP showed Syndrome specificity

but changes of VIP and Glu did not show.