title: Total and segmental colonic transit time in non ulcer dyspepsia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, K E M Hospital, Bombay.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nabar
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravi
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Mistry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged