DELAYED GASTRIC-EMPTYING OF BOTH THE LIQUID AND SOLID COMPONENTS OF AMEAL IN CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASE

Objectives: To evaluate gastric emptying in patients with chronic live r disease and portal hypertension. Methods: We measured gastric emptyi ng of both the liquid and solid components of a meal in 10 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension, but free of ascites, and 14 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. In the pati ents with liver disease, relationships between emptying and liver func tion were examined. To measure gastric emptying, subjects consumed a t est meal that consisted of scrambled eggs labeled with Tc-99m-sulfur c olloid and 4 oz of water labeled with In-111-diethylene triamine penta cetic acid (DTPA). Results: Patients with liver disease and portal hyp ertension demonstrated delayed emptying of both the liquid (t1/2, min, mean +/- SE, patients vs. Controls: 69.4 +/- 19.4 vs. 31.4 +/- 1.8, p < 0.01) and solid (post-lag phase solid emptying: 141 +/- 32.9 vs. 69 .8 +/- 4.6, p < 0.006) components of the meal. We could not identify a ny correlation between gastric emptying and tests of liver function. C onclusions: Gastric emptying is delayed in patients with liver disease and portal hypertension; this abnormal gastric motor function may con tribute to the pathophysiology of foregut complaints in this patient p opulation.