Abnormalities of the electrogastrogram in functional gastrointestinal disorders

OBJECTIVE: Cutaneous electrogastrography records gastric electrical activit y and detects gastric arrhythmias. Abnormalities of the electrogastrogram h ave been described in a variety of disorders, but their specificity and the ir prevalence in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders has no t been reported. The aim of this study was to assess the specificity of ele ctrogastrography as well as the prevalence and pattern of abnormalities in functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. METHODS: Electrogastrography was performed in 170 patients with functional dyspepsia, 70 patients with irritable bowel syndrome, 20 patients with gast roesophageal reflux disease, and 30 asymptomatic controls. The abnormal ele ctrogastrogram was defined as <70% normal electrical activity either before or after a test meal. RESULTS: The electrogastrogram was abnormal in 36% of patients with functio nal dyspepsia and in 25% with irritable bowel syndrome who complained of co ncurrent dyspepsia. The electrogastrogram was normal in 93% of asymptomatic controls, 90% of patients with, gastroesophageal reflux, and 92% of patien ts with irritable bowel syndrome who did not complain of dyspepsia. As a gr oup, functional dyspepsia patients had a greater degree of tachygastrias bo th before (p < 0.02) and after (p < 0.01) a test meal. The electrical frequ ency after the test meal was also more unstable (p < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The electrogastrogram is abnormal in approximately 36% of func tional dyspepsia patients and has a specificity of approximately 93%. Elect rogastrography defines a subgroup of patients with functional dyspepsia and electrical rhythm disturbance. In irritable bowel syndrome, the electrogas trogram is usually abnormal only if concurrent dyspepsia is present. (C) 19 99 by Am. Cell. of Gastroenterology.