Gastric hypersensitivity in nonulcer dyspepsia: an inconsistent finding.
Visceral hypersensitivity is claimed to be involved in the pathogenesis of nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD). We evaluated whether gastric hypersensitivity is a consistent finding in an unselected group of NUD patients. In 11 patients and 20 healthy controls, a standardized gastric distension was performed using a gastric barostat. Perception was scored by a questionnaire and compared between the two groups. There was a linear pressure/volume relationship during gastric distension in both groups. The pain threshold in NUD patients was significantly lower compared to controls [5.5 +/- 4.0 mm Hg above minimal distending pressure (mdp) and 10.2 +/- 2.2 mm Hg above mdp, respectively, P < 0.004], irrespective of the H. pylori status. However, more than 50% of the NUD perception scores were in the control range at most distension levels. Gastric hypersensitivity could be confirmed in NUD patients as a group. However, there is a considerable overlap concerning perception in response to distension between unselected NUD patients and controls.
Klatt
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Germany.
Pieramico
O
O
Guethner
C
C
Glasbrenner
B
B
Beckh
K
K
Adler
G
G
D000328:Adult; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010465:Perception; D011312:Pressure; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires