FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA

Functional dyspepsia is defined as persistent or recurrent upper abdom inal pain or discomfort not explained by structural or biochemical abn ormalities. In about half of the patients who present to their practit ioner with chronic dyspepsia, no underlying disease is established aft er clinical investigation. Many clinical trials have been performed to demonstrate a certain relationship between functional dyspepsia and s everal pathogenic mechanisms like dysmotility, Helicobacter pylori inf ection, acid output and hypersensitivity to distension. Unfortunately, the conclusions of those studies are conflicting. Short-term follow-u p, lack of consensus about diagnostic criteria for functional dyspepsi a and unvalidated symptom measures make it difficult to interpret thei r results.