Cyclic vomiting syndrome: a brain-gut disorder.
Despite the "black box" surrounding CVS, the authors' understanding of this clinical entity has advanced substantially in the last decade as a result of an international interdisciplinary clinical and research effort. Although CVS is now recognized as a unique clinical entity, patients still undergo innumerable hospitalizations and diagnostic tests. Although controlled therapeutic studies are lacking, reasonably effective empiric approaches have been developed by trial and error using anti-migraine, anti-emetic, and anti-epileptic regimens. The ongoing investigations of migraine mechanisms through NMR spectroscopy, mitochondrial DNA mutations and cellular energetics, corticotropin-releasing factor and gastric motility, and brainstem regulation of autonomic function may lead to breakthroughs in the understanding of and new therapies for CVS in the next decade.
Li
B U
BU
Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University and Children's Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL 60614, USA. bli@childrensmemorial.org
Misiewicz
Larry
L
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010507:Periodicity; D012008:Recurrence; D013577:Syndrome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy