ETIOLOGY OF DYSPEPSIA - 400 UNSELECTED CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS IN GENERAL-PRACTICE

Background: Four hundred consecutive unselected patients with dyspepsi a in health care centers were investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of various causes of dyspepsia in primary care and to evaluate the usefulness of the latest definition of functional dyspepsia. Methods: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, upper abdominal ultrasound, a test for lactose intolerance, and basic laboratory scre ening were performed in every patient. Results: Esophagitis was the ca use of symptoms in 15%, symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux without es ophagitis in 12%, duodenal ulcer in 9%, gastric ulcer in 4%, erosive d uodenitis in 2%, lactose intolerance in 9%, gallstone disease in 2%, a nd malignancy in 2%. Other more infrequent causes of dyspepsia were gi ardiasis, celiac disease, erosive gastritis, and chronic pancreatitis. One hundred and thirty-five patients had functional dyspepsia with su bgroups of ulcer-like (22%), dysmotility-like (28%), and nonspecific ( 50%). Irritable bower syndrome was diagnosed in 37 patients (9%). Conc lusions: The cause of dyspepsia was organic in 45%. Functional disorde rs, when symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux was included, were diagno sed in 55%. The latest classification of functional dyspepsia is not i n accordance with the symptom complex.