The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia.
OBJECTIVE
There is no general agreement with regard to the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric emptying in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia.


METHODS
We performed the 14C urea breath test as well as simultaneous recordings of scintigraphic gastic emptying and gastric clearance of radiopaque markers to determine the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids in nonulcer dyspepsia patients.


RESULTS
Sixty patients, 30 males and 30 females, were enrolled in the study. There were 22 patients (36.7%) without and 38 patients (63.3%) with H. pylori infection. Twenty-four of the 60 patients (40%) showed normal and 36 patients (60%) showed delayed gastric emptying of digestible solids. In addition, 21 patients (35%) showed normal and 39 patients (63%) showed delayed gastric emptying of indigestible solids. There was no correlation between delayed gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids (p > 0.05, difference not significant). Although not statistically significant, the incidence of delayed indigestible solid emptying was higher than that of delayed digestible solid emptying (65% vs. 60%). Among different patterns of gastric emptying, no difference was noted between the patients with and without H. pylori infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Delayed gastric emptying of indigestible solids is as common as delayed gastric emptying of digestible solids in nonulcer dyspepsia patients. The status of H. Pylori infection appeared not to influence the incidence of delayed gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids.
Chang
C S
CS
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.
Chen
G H
GH
Kao
C H
CH
Wang
S J
SJ
Peng
S N
SN
Huang
C K
CK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010833:Phytic Acid; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C026177:technetium phytate; D010833:Phytic Acid; D014508:Urea