Relationship of Helicobacter pylori infection with gastrointestinal motility

The interest of gastroenterologists in the relationship between Helicobacte r pylori and gastrointestinal motility emerges from the observation that He licobacter pylori may be involved in the pathogenesis of functional dyspeps ia and that a relatively large percentage of patients with dyspepsia may Sh ow impaired gastrointestinal motility: A number of studies have been publis hed on the interaction between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastrointe stinal motility with controversial results, and, therefore, there are no de finite conclusions, as pet, as to whether Helicobacter pylori is able, at a ll, or in which degree, to influence the motility of the upper gastrointest inal tract. Motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract has been studied i n Helicobacter pylori positive and negative individuals by means of manomet ry: scintigraphy: radio-opaque markers or by other recently developed, proc edures such as breath tests, ultrasonography: and barostat. The vast majori ty of studies do not support the hypothesis that Helicobacter pylori may in fluence gastrointestinal motility Nearly all these studies are, however; af fected by methodological problems related to the small numbers of patients, different methodological approaches, and to the,Yell-known difficulties in studying both gastrointestinal motility and functional dyspepsia.