Role of delayed gastric emptying in pathogenesis of PDS symptoms

OBJECTIVE: Role of delayed gastric emptying in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia (FD) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of delayed gastric emptying in the pathogenesis of postprandial distress symptom (PDS). MATERIAL AND METHODS:34 FD patients were recruited at a single tertiary care center from December 2012 to March 2014. Patients underwent gastric emptying test using ¹³C-acetate breath test. The point of maximum gastric emptying (Tmax) was evaluated. Patients also answered RomeIII qustionnaire, GERD symptom severity Questionnaire (GerdQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Separately, 11 patients received 300 mg of acotiamide a day for 4 weeks. After acotiamide treatment, overall treatment efficacy (OTE) was evaluated. RESULTS: The subjects were divided into an epigastric pain symptom (EPS) group, PDS group and EPS+PDS group. Among 3 groups, no significant difference in Tmax was observed (EPS group: 56.0+-9.3, PDS group: 56.8+-6.2, EPS+PDS group: 58.9 +- 5.0 min). Tmax did not correlate with none of GerdQ, HADS-anxiety score and HADS-depression score. Tmax tended to correlate with body mass index (p=0.06, r=-0.32). In acotiamide treated patients, OTE was obtained in 4 patients(36.4%). Between acotiamide effective and non-effective group, no significant difference in Tmax was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Contribution of delayed gastric emptying in PDS symptoms was not observed. Another mechanism may be contributed to pathogenesis of PDS symptoms.