Nonulcer dyspepsia

Therapy for nonulcer dyspepsia has largely been empiric because effective t herapeutic agents are sparse and therapeutic trials show inconsistent resul ts. The Cochrane collaboration has reviewed this matter and came to the con clusion that prokinetics and acid-suppression therapy might have a signific ant, although small, clinical benefit over placebo. Although the role of He licobacter pylori in nonulcer dyspepsia is still a matter of controversy, o ne meta-analysis suggests that in H. pylori-positive dyspeptic patients, H. pylori eradication has a small but significant therapeutic benefit over a therapy that does not eradicate H. pylori. Other aspects of pathophysiology of nonulcer dyspepsia that have been studied in the past year include visc eral hyperalgesia and abnormal sleep pattern. New studies have also investi gated the clinical presentation of nonulcer dyspepsia and the possible reas ons why some patients never consult a doctor whereas others do so frequentl y. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2001, 17:518-522 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.