title: Gastric electrical activity and gastrointestinal hormones in dyspeptic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the patterns of gastric electrical activity, gastric emptying and gastrointestinal hormones in dyspeptic patients and relate them to Helicobacter pylori status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with functional dyspepsia and 29 healthy volunteers underwent cutaneous electrogastrography and dynamic ultrasound before and after a test meal. All dyspeptic patients underwent endoscopy and biopsy; all subjects were examined for the presence of antibodies to H. pylori, and the plasma levels of gastrin, neurotensin, cholecystokinin, and pancreatic polypeptide were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The area under the curve (AUC) of the normal slow wave percentage was lower in dyspeptic patients than controls (Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.016; Dunn's test: H. pylori-positive patients: 21,235.5 [19,101.0-22,688.8] vs. H. pylori-negative controls: 22,532.0 [20,133.0-23,755.0], p < 0.05). The AUC of the tachygastria percentage was higher in dyspeptic patients than controls (p = 0.0001; H. pylori-positive patients: 2,173.5 [325.8-3,055.3] vs. H. pylori-negative controls: 682.0 [118.5-1,902.4], p < 0.05; H. pylori-negative patients: 1,843.0 [1,107.0-4,277.0] vs. H. pylori-negative controls: 682.0 [118.5-1,902.4], p < 0.05). The AUC of gastrin was higher in H. pylori-positive than H. pylori-negative subjects (p = 0.0002; H. pylori-positive patients: 16,146.5 [11,368.8-33,141.7] vs. H. pylori-negative controls: 11,250.0 [5,674.0-17,448.0], p < 0.05; H. pylori-positive controls: 20,250.0 [12,070.0-64,430.0] vs. H. pylori-negative controls: 11,250.0 [5,674.0-17,448.0], p < 0.05). In the total group of dyspeptic patients and in the H. pylori-positive patients, a negative correlation was found between the AUC of neurotensin and the total score for postprandial fullness (dyspeptic patients r = -0.51, p = 0.01; H. pylori-positive patients r = -0.66, p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In dyspeptic patients, alterations in gastric electrical activity were not related to H. pylori infection. Nevertheless, H. pylori infection induces higher gastrin levels in both patients and asymptomatic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, Scientific Institute of Gastroenterology, Via F. Valente, 4, I-70013 Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy. giriezzo@tin.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riezzo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiloiro
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clemente
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Matteo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Leo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period
chemical_list: D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones