Symptoms associated with impaired gastric emptying of solids and liquids in functional dyspepsia.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between functional dyspepsia and delayed gastric emptying of solids or liquids is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate in dyspeptic patients the prevalence of delayed gastric emptying for solids or for liquids and to investigate the relationship to the dyspepsia symptom pattern.


METHODS
In 392 and 330 patients with functional dyspepsia, the solid and liquid gastric emptying, respectively, was measured using breath tests, and the severity of eight dyspeptic symptoms was scored.


RESULTS
Gastric emptying of solids and liquids were delayed in 23% and 35% of the patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of vomiting and postprandial fullness was associated with delayed solid emptying (OR 2.65, 95% CI = 1.62-4.35 and OR 3.08, 95% CI = 1.28-9.16, respectively). Postprandial fullness was also associated with the risk of delayed liquid emptying when symptom was present (OR 3.5, 95% CI = 1.57-8.68), relevant or severe (OR 2.504, 95% CI = 1.41-4.65), and severe (OR 2.214, 95% CI = 1.34-3.67). Severe early satiety was associated with the risk of delayed liquid emptying (OR 1.902, 95% CI = 1.90-3.30).


CONCLUSIONS
A subset of dyspeptic patients has delayed gastric emptying of solids or of liquids. Delayed gastric emptying of solids was constantly associated with postprandial fullness and with vomiting. Delayed emptying for liquids was also associated with postprandial fullness and with severe early satiety.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Giovanni
G
Sarnelli
Philip
P
Caenepeel
Benny
B
Geypens
Jozef
J
Janssens
Jan
J
Tack
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001944:Breath Tests; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004884:Eructation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012527:Satiation / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology