Total and segmental colonic transit time in non ulcer dyspepsia.
BACKGROUND
Patients with non ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) often have associated lower alimentary tract symptoms which are labelled as due to the irritable bowel syndrome.


OBJECTIVE
To asymptomatic colonic dysmotility is present in patients with NUD.


METHODS
We studied total and segmental colonic transit times in 25 patients with NUD (14 men age range 20-70 yr), and 25 matched normal controls (13 men; 18-50 yr), using the multiple-marker, single-film technique. Twenty markers each were administered at 0, 9 and 18 h and an abdominal film taken at 27 h.


RESULTS
Total colonic transit time was shorter (median 9 h) in patients with NUD as compared to controls (median 15.8 h) p = 0.0018, with similar segmental motility pattern as in controls. There was no significant difference between the symptom subgroups of NUD.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with NUD often have altered colonic transit even in the absence of symptoms. NUD may therefore be only a subset of diffuse gastrointestinal dysmotility with predominant proximal alimentary tract symptoms, whereas the term irritable bowel syndrome is used when lower tract symptoms predominate.
Nabar
A A
AA
Department of Gastroenterology, K E M Hospital, Bombay.
Bhatia
S J
SJ
Abraham
P
P
Ravi
P
P
Mistry
F P
FP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged