title: Scintigraphic methods to evaluate alterations of gastric and esophageal functions in female obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Altered gastrointestinal function has frequently been observed in obese patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and to determine the alterations of gastric emptying and esophageal transit by scintigraphic methods in obese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scintigraphic studies of 50 obese female non-diabetic patients who had not received any treatment for weight control were retrospectively reviewed. Mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 34.96±3.04 kg/m(2) (range:32-39 kg/m(2)). All subjects were submitted to scintigraphic evaluation of esophageal transit, gastro-esophageal reflux, gastric emptying and presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. The data of obese patients were compared with those of sex-age matched 30 non-obese cases who were selected from our clinical archive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In obese group, seventeen (34%) patients were found to be GER positive scintigraphically; mean gastric emptying time (t½) was 59.18±30.8 min and the mean esophageal transit time was 8.9±7.2 s. Frequency of positive GER scintigraphy and the mean value of esophageal transit time were significantly higher in obese patients than non-obese control subjects. Gastric emptying time and esophageal transit time values were significantly longer in GER positive obese patients than GER negative ones. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of positive C14 urea breath test between obese and non-obese subjects and there were also no statistically significant correlations between BMI, GER, esophageal transit time and gastric emptying time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, 42 of the 50 obese patients had esophago-gastric motility alterations. The significance of these alterations in obesity is not fully understood, but it is believed that these changes could be because of potential contributing factors in the development or maintenance of obesity or changes in eating habits.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None declared.
authors.affiliation: Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nuclear Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgür
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Omür
authors.affiliation: Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
authors.affiliation: Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nuclear Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hayal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozkılıç
authors.affiliation: Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Candeğer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
keywords: esophageal motility disorders; gastroesophageal reflux; obesity