title: [Excretion and metabolism of dopamine in patients with functional dyspepsia].
abstract: Dopamine is one of major neurotransmitter in the central and peripheral nervous system. A significant amount of dopamine is also produced in the visceral nervous system and in gastrointestinal tract, where exhibits inhibitory activity on motility.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the parameters of dopamine secretion and metabolism in patients with functional dyspepsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in a group of 30 healthy subjects and 60 patients with functional dyspepsia (FD), that met the Rome Criteria III, for epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) and postprandial distress syndrome (PDS). The severity of dyspeptic symptoms was determined using a 10-point Visual-Analogue Scale (VAS). Fasting plasma concentration of dopamine (DA) and the contents of homovanillic acid (HVA) in the urine collection were determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DA concentration in plasma was similar in both clinical forms FD (EPS - 55.6 pg/ml, in patients with PDS - 63.5 pg/ml, p>0.05). Urine excretion of HVA in patients with PDS - 6.63 mg/24 h (p<0.05) was higher than in heathy subjects - 5.65 mg/24 h (p<0.05) and those with EPS - 5.07 mg/24 h (p<0.001). In the group with PDS severity of dyspeptic symptoms showed a positive correlation with the DA concentration in plasma and HVA excretion in the urine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased secretion of DA may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of PDS.
authors.affiliation: Medical University in Lodz, Poland: Department of Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterological Diagnostics.
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wachowska-Kelly
authors.affiliation: Medical University in Lodz, Poland: Department of Gastroenterology.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stępień
authors.affiliation: Medical University in Lodz, Poland: Department of Gastroenterology.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romanowski
authors.affiliation: Medical University in Lodz, Poland: Department of Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterological Diagnostics.
authors.forename: Cezary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chojnacki
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain; D000328:Adult; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid
keywords: dopamine; dopamine receptors; functional dyspepsia