Comparison of gastric emptying parameters between asymptomatic volunteers and patients with functional dyspepsia in Middle Eastern population

OBJECTIVE: To derive the normal reference values for Middle East population using a standard method, and to validate its performance in functional dyspepsia.

METHODS: A prospective study was designed to derive gastric emptying parameters in 36 healthy control subjects. We measured the lag phase, half time, and gastric retention at the first, second, and third hours. Values were compared to 49 patients with functional dyspepsia. This study was carried out between July 2005 and August 2009 at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan.

RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups at lag phase. Dyspeptic patients had significantly higher gastric retention at the first, second, and third hours (p=0.045, p=0.003, p=0.002). Gastric retention at the third hour was the most sensitive parameter detecting 16 patients (32.6%). Only 3 patients (6.1%) had increased gastric retention at the first hour and normal retention at the third hour. Twelve patients (24.5%) had delayed half time; these patients had increased gastric retention either at the first or third hour.

CONCLUSION: Measurement of gastric retention at the first, second, and third hour is enough to identify delayed-early and late phases of gastric emptying in functional dyspepsia patients.