Clinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2005. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2005; 11(28): 4375-4381
Published online Jul 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i28.4375
Relationship between gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal symptoms and delayed gastric emptying in functional dyspeptic patients
N Pallotta, P Pezzotti, E Calabrese, F Baccini, E Corazziari
N Pallotta, P Pezzotti, E Calabrese, F Baccini, E Corazziari, Dpt Scienze Cliniche, Universit degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; Reparto AIDS e Malattie Sessualmente Trasmesse, Istituto Superiore di Sanit; Rome, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor E Corazziari, Dpt di Scienze Cliniche, Universit "La Sapienza", Policlinico "Umberto I", V.le del Policlinico, Rome 00161, Italy. enrico.corazziari@uniroma1.it
Telephone: +39-6-49978384 Fax: +39-6-49978385
Received: July 17, 2004
Revised: January 2, 2005
Accepted: January 5, 2005
Published online: July 28, 2005
Abstract

AIM: Delayed gastric emptying and an enlarged fasting gastric antrum are common findings in functional dyspepsia but their relationship with gastrointestinal (GI), and the frequently associated extra-GI symptoms remains unclear. This study evaluated the relationship between GI and extra-GI symptoms, fasting antral volume and delayed gastric emptying in functional dyspepsia.

METHODS: In 108 functional dyspeptic patients antral volume and gastric emptying were assessed with ultraso-nography (US). Symptoms were assessed with standardized questionnaire. The association of symptoms and fasting antral volume with delayed gastric emptying was estimated with logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Delayed gastric emptying was detected in 39.8% of the patients. Postprandial drowsiness (AOR 11.25; 95%CI 2.75-45.93), nausea (AOR 3.51; 95%CI 1.19-10.32), fasting antral volume (AOR 1.93; 95%CI 1.22-3.05), were significantly associated with delayed gastric emptying. Symptoms, mainly the extra-GI ones as postprandial drowsiness and nausea, combined with fasting antral volume predicted the modality of gastric emptying with a sensitivity and specificity of 78%.

CONCLUSION: In functional dyspeptic patients, (1) an analysis of fasting antral volume and of symptoms can offer valuable indication on the modality of gastric emptying, and (2) it seems appropriate to inquire on postprandial drowsiness that showed the best correlation with delayed gastric emptying.

Keywords: Functional dyspepsia; Gastric emptying; Ultrasonography