GASTRIC-EMPTYING IN HYPERTHYROIDISM

Objectives: We undertook a prospective study to survey gastric emptyin g of a solid meal in patients with hyperthyroidism until euthyroidism was reached after pharmacological treatment with thiamazole. Methods: Eleven women (aged 33.2 +/- 3.2 SE yr) with recently diagnosed hyperth yroidism participated in the study. Thyroid function parameters and ga stric emptying were examined on three occasions, before treatment, dur ing the third week of treatment, and after euthyroidism was restored. The control group was composed of 12 age-matched healthy women (aged 3 4.5 +/- 2.3 yr). Gastric emptying of a 390-kcal Tc-99m-labeled solid m eal was continuously recorded under a gamma camera over 90 min. A powe r-exponential model was used for analysis of the gastric emptying cour se. Three gastric emptying parameters were computed: t(1/2)), the gast ric half-emptying time, S, the curve shape parameter, and K, the slope of the curve. Results: Pretreatment solid phase gastric emptying of t he patients was not statistically significantly different from that of the healthy control subjects: t(1/2), 82.8 +/- 4.9 vs 93.5 +/- 6.0 mi n; S, 0.996 +/- 0.103 vs 1.032 +/- 0.064; and K, 8.42 +/- 0.47 vs 7.64 +/- 0.39 min(-1).10(-3). Gastric emptying during the third week of tr eatment did not change in comparison with pretreatment gastric emptyin g: t(1/2), 84.3 +/- 8.2 min; S, 1.014 +/- 0.123; and K, 8.92 +/- 1.12 min(-1).10(-3). On the other hand, a slight increase in rate of gastri c emptying was observed after the restoration of euthyroidism (t(1/2), 74.6 +/- 5.8 min, and K, 9.65 +/- 0.76 min(-1).10(-3), p < 0.05 vs he althy control subjects for both parameters), but no significant change was observed in the shape parameter (S, 0.980 +/- 0.066). Conclusions : In women with hyperthyroidism, gastric emptying of solids does not d iffer significantly from that observed in age-matched healthy control subjects and remains unaffected during pharmacological treatment. Afte r restoration of euthyroidism, a slight but statistically significant increase in the rate of gastric emptying occurs in patients as compare d with healthy control subjects.