Pl. Rhee et al., Evaluation of individual symptoms cannot predict presence of gastric hypersensitivity in functional dyspepsia, DIG DIS SCI, 45(8), 2000, pp. 1680-1684
Recently, the concept of gastric hypersensitivity was introduced as an impo
rtant factor in the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia (FD), but it is
unclear which symptoms can predict the presence of gastric hypersensitivit
y. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between common symptoms of FD a
nd various parameters measured by gastric barostat in FD patients. Gastric
barostat tests were performed in 64 FD patients and 20 healthy control subj
ects without gastrointestinal symptoms. Individual symptoms such as early s
atiety, postprandial fullness, sense of delayed emptying, nausea, vomiting,
and epigastric soreness were collected and graded as mild to severe. Basal
tone, gastric compliance, and postprandial receptive relaxation were simil
ar in controls and patients, the threshold of abdominal discomfort was lowe
r in FD patients than in controls (8.9 +/- 3.6 mm Hg and 14.5 +/- 3.7 mm Hg
, respectively, P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences i
n the threshold of abdominal discomfort according to the severity of indivi
dual symptoms. In conclusion, a simple evaluation of individual symptoms co
uld not predict the presence of gastric hypersensitivity.