GASTRIC-EMPTYING IN HYPOTHYREOSIS

The purpose of this study was to compare the solid phase gastric empty ing (GE) in hypothyreotic patients before treatment and after euthyreo sis has been reached. Ten female patients (aged 44.8+/-9.5[SD] y) with recently diagnosed hypothyroidism were included in the study. Their t hyrometabolic state and GE were examined before treatment and after a median of 5 1/2 months (range 2 1/2-12 1/2), i.e., when euthyreosis wa s achieved. The control group consisted of 12 healthy women (aged 34.5 +/-8.1y). GE of a 390-kcal Tc-99m-labelled solid meal was continuously recorded under a gamma camera during 90 min. A power-exponential mode l was used for the analysis of the GE course. Compared to the controls , the solid phase GE of the hypothyreotics was characterized by a sign ificantly lower curve shape parameter S (0.745+/-0.217 vs. 1.032+/-0.2 23, p<0.01) and slope of the curve K (4.8+/-2.2 min(-1) . 10(-3) vs. 7 .6+/-1.3 min(-1) . 10(-3), p<0.01). Restoration of euthyreosis resulte d in an increase of both parameters, making the GE pattern no longer s tatistically significantly different from that encountered in healthy subjects. The treatment did not affect the gastric half emptying time T 1/2 (median: 125 min and 130 min before and after the treatment, res pectively; healthy controls: 94 min). A wide variation of individual G E data was found either before or after the treatment, and in a few ca ses delayed GE persisted despite an effective substitutive treatment. The GE kinetics was, however, in no way related to the severity of the disease. Further research on the pathogenesis of this phenomenon is w arranted.