[Diabetic autonomic gastric neuropathy: contribution of the electrogastrogram].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to characterize the features of vegetative gastric neuropathy observed in diabetic patients based on surface electrogastrographic recordings.


METHODS
An electrogastrogram was recorded over an 8 hour 30 minute period in 63 patients with asymptomatic insulin-dependent diabetes and in 15 non-diabetic controls. Normal the electrical frequency of the stomach is 2 to 4 cycles per minute (cpm). Bradygastria is defined as a frequency below 2 cpm and tachygastria by a frequency above 4 cpm.


RESULTS
The diabetic patients showed a below normal gastric frequency and enhanced tachygastria over the entire recording period and during the pre, per and post-prandial periods. These vagal alterations were not correlated with the principle features of diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
Electrogastrography confirms that vegetative gastric neuropathy occurs early in patients with asymptomatic insulin-dependent diabetes. The tachygastria could lead to the increased rate of gastroparesis reported in these patients.
Mayaudon
H
H
Services d'Endocrinologie, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Bégin, Saint-Mandé.
Bauduceau
B
B
Dupuy
O
O
Ceccaldi
B
B
Farret
O
O
Molinié
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology