Evidence of prolonged orocecal transit time and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in acromegalic patients.
BACKGROUND
Gastrointestinal abnormalities in acromegaly include dolichomegacolon, slow colonic transit, and increased prevalence of colonic polyps. Conversely, no data are available on the small intestine.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the orocecal transit time (OCTT) and the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).


METHODS
A total of 41 acromegalic patients and 30 sex- and age-matched control subjects entered the study. Acromegalic patients were classified according to the medical treatment with somatostatin analogs as "treated" (n = 22) and "untreated" (n = 19), whereas according to the disease control, as "controlled" (n = 17), "uncontrolled" (n = 10), and "partially controlled" (n = 14). Patients and controls completed a questionnaire and underwent a standardized 10-g lactulose hydrogen breath test to determine the OCTT and presence of SIBO. SIBO-positive patients underwent eradication with rifaximine.


RESULTS
An increased prevalence of SIBO (18 of 41 vs. 1 of 30; P < 0.0001) and a significantly delayed OCTT (169.53 +/- 8.15 vs. 107.25 +/- 6.56 min; P < 0.0001) were evidenced in patients compared with controls. No significant statistical differences were found between "treated" or "untreated" patients positive for SIBO or between "controlled," "partially controlled," and "uncontrolled" patients. OCTT was significantly delayed in "treated" vs. "untreated" patients (183.21 +/- 9.01 and 158.89 +/- 6.38, respectively; P = 0.02) and in patients compared with controls (105.75 +/- 6.34; P < 0.0001). Rifaximine eradicated SIBO in more than 50% of patients who underwent treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate for the first time that SIBO occurs more frequently in acromegalic patients, however, it can be successfully treated by a specific antibiotic. Medical therapy with somatostatin analogs does not affect SIBO prevalence. OCTT resulted significantly prolonged in both "treated" and "untreated" patients, suggesting that acromegaly determines per se an impairment of the intestinal motility. Indeed, disease control seems irrelevant on the delayed OCTT, suggesting that this alteration might be an irreversible complication of acromegaly, probably related to an autonomic intestinal disorder, as we have previously demonstrated at the cardiac level.
Resmini
Eugenia
E
Department of Endocrine & Medical Sciences (DiSEM), University of Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 6, Genova, Italy.
Parodi
Andrea
A
Savarino
Vincenzo
V
Greco
Alfredo
A
Rebora
Alberto
A
Minuto
Francesco
F
Ferone
Diego
D
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D001944:Breath Tests; D002432:Cecum; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007792:Lactulose / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008531:Megacolon / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007792:Lactulose