Causes of abnormal intestinal motility can be separated into two different groups: abnormalities of the muscle of the intestine (myopathy) and abnormalities in the neural (nerve) control of the muscle (neuropathy). Nerve and muscle abnormalities may be genetically inherited. In this situation, it is common to find many patients’ family members with contraction problems, not only of the intestinal muscle, but also of the bladder. There are secondary causes of intestinal dysmotility. Examples of this include systemic Lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis, neurofibromatosis, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, scleroderma, thyroid disorders, and muscular dystrophies. Certain medications can also cause intestinal dysmotility. Additionally, any disorders that cause inflammation to the intestine can cause significant dysmotility (i.e. radiation therapy, celiac disease).
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