GASTRIC HYPERSENSITIVITY IN NONULCER DYSPEPSIA - AN INCONSISTENT FINDING

Visceral hypersensitivity is claimed to be involved in the pathogenesi s of nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD). We evaluated whether gastric hypersensi tivity is a consistent finding in an unselected group of NUD patients. In 11 patients and 20 healthy controls, a standardized gastric disten sion was performed using a gastric barostat. Perception was scored by a questionnaire and compared between the two groups. There was a linea r pressure/volume relationship during gastric distension in both group s. The pain threshold in NUD patients was significantly lower compared to controls [5.5 +/- 4.0 mm Hg above minimal distending pressure (mdp ) and 10.2 +/- 2.2 mm Hg above mdp, respectively, P < 0.004], irrespec tive of the H. pylori status. However, more than 50% of the NUD percep tion scores were in the control range at most distension levels. Gastr ic hypersensitivity could be confirmed in NUD patients as a group. How ever, there is a considerable overlap concerning perception in respons e to distension between unselected NUD patients and controls.