Upper gastrointestinal findings in Huntington's disease: patients suffer but do not complain.
We investigated, retrospectively, the prevalence of gastroesophageal inflammation in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) during 10 years in our center. We found a high prevalence of gastritis or esophagitis even in patients without complaints, indicating that gastrointestinal disease is more common in HD than patients' complaints. There was no correlation with motor disturbances but with the duration and severity of HD. Influences from the disease itself as well as secondary mechanisms like malnutrition, medication and general disability may contribute.
Andrich
Jürgen E
JE
Department of Neurology, Huntington-Center NRW, St. Josef Hospital, Gudrunstrasse 56, 44791 Bochum, Germany. juergen.andrich@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Wobben
Michael
M
Klotz
Peter
P
Goetze
Oliver
O
Saft
Carsten
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors