Gallbladder contraction, gastric emptying and antral motility: single visit assessment of upper GI function in untreated celiac disease using echo-planar MRI.
OBJECTIVE
To assess gallbladder contraction, gastric emptying, and antral motility in untreated celiac patients and healthy controls using a single MRI examination.


METHODS
Gallbladder emptying, gastric emptying, and antral motility were measured in 15 celiac patients and 15 age/sex-matched healthy controls following a 323-kcal test meal using EPI techniques. Postprandial dyspepsia scores were recorded on a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Fasting gallbladder volume (P=0.01) and the volume of bile ejected postprandially (P=0.014) were increased in celiacs. Gastric emptying tended to be slower in celiacs (P=0.142). Three celiac patients with severe postprandial dyspepsia and total villous atrophy had pathologically delayed gastric emptying and increased fasting gallbladder volume. Antral contractions were absent in five out of 14 patients (36%) five minutes after the meal, but in none of 10 volunteers in whom the antrum could be visualized (P=0.128).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that using MRI, multiple parameters related to upper gastrointestinal function in celiac disease can be measured in a single noninvasive study, whereas previously three separate visits would have been required. Celiacs have increased fasting gallbladder volumes and tend to have slower gastric emptying.
Marciani
Luca
L
Wolfson Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Hospital, Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Coleman
Nicholas S
NS
Dunlop
Simon P
SP
Singh
Gulzar
G
Marsden
Charles A
CA
Holmes
Geoffrey K
GK
Spiller
Robin C
RC
Gowland
Penny A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009929:Organ Size