Abstract
Chronic dyspepsia is common in children. However, the association of individual predominant symptoms with gastric emptying and their impact on nutritional status are poorly defined. We therefore studied 31 children (mean age 11 years, 14 boys) with chronic dyspepsia and classified their predominant symptoms (PS) by their character and severity. Gastric emptying (GE) T 1/2 of a solid meal was carried out in all patients, while upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done in the treatment failures. All patients received two months treatment with cisapride. Weight for age z scores were recorded before and three months after treatment. There were 12 patients with epigastric pain (EP) as the PS (7 moderate/severe). Postprandial fullness (PF) was the PS in 19 patients (12 moderate/severe). GE T 1/2 was prolonged and weight for age z scores were lower in children who had moderate/severe (but not mild) PF comparing to those who had EP (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.003, respectively). A significant improvement in weight was observed in the same group alone following treatment with cisapride (P = 0.0003). In conclusion, impaired GE is common in dyspeptic children with PF and have adverse effects on nutritional status.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Talley N, Collin-Jones D, Koch K, Koch M, Nyren O, Stanghellini V: Functional dyspepsia: a classification of guidelines for diagnosis and management. Gastroenterology Intl 4:145–160, 1991
Hyams J, Burke J, Davis P, Rzepski B, Andrulonis P: Abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome in adolescence: a community-based study. J Pediatr 129:220–226, 1996
Tytgat GN: Patients with dyspepsia: A heterogeneous population. In Gastrointestinal Dysmotility: Focus on Cisapride RC Heading, JD Wood (eds). Raven Press, New York, 1992, pges 201–211
Talley N, Zinsmeister A, Schlek C, Melton J III: Dyspepsia and dyspepsia subgroups: A population-based study. Gastroenterology 102:1259–1268, 1992
Stanghellini V, Tosetti C, Paternico A, De-Giorgio R, Barbara G, Salvioli B, Corinaldesi R: Predominant symptoms identify different subgroups in functional dyspepsia. Am J Gastroenterol 94:2080–2085, 1999
Stanghellini V, Tosetti C, Paternico A, Barbara G, Morselli-Labate AM, Monetti N, Marengo M, Corinaldesi R: Risk indicators of delayed gastric emptying of solids in patients with functional dyspepsia. Gastroenterology 110:1036–1042, 1996
Klauser A, Voderholzer W, Knesewitsch P, Schindlebeck N, Muller-Lissner S: What is behind dyspepsia? Dig Dis Sci 38:147–154, 1993
Talley N, Shuter B, Mc Crudden G, Jones M, Hoschl R, Piper D: Lack of association between gastric emptying of solids and symptoms in nonulcer dyspepsia. J Clin Gastroenterol 11:625–630, 1989
Frisancho AR: Nutritional anthropometry. J Am Diet Assoc 88:553–555, 1988
Malmud LS, Fisher RS, Knight LC, Rock E: Scintigraphic evaluation of gastric emptying. Semin Nucl Med 12:116–125, 1982
Johnsen R, Bernersen B, Straum B, Forde OH, Bostad L, Burhol PG: Prevalence of endoscopic and histological findings in subjects with and without dyspepsia. BMJ 302:749–752, 1991
Tougas G, Chen Y, Hwang P, Liu M, Eggleston A: Prevalence and impact of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the Canadian population: findings from the DIGEST study. Domestic/International Gastroenterology Surveillance Study. Am J Gastroenterol 94:2845–2854, 1999
Hyams J, Davis P, Sylvester F, Zeiter D, Justinich C, Lerer T: Dyspepsia in children and adolescents: a prospective study. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 30:413–418, 2000
Riezzo G, Chiloiro M, Guerra V, Borrelli O, Salvia G, Cucciara S: Comparison of gastric electrical activity and gastric emptying in healthy and dyspeptic children. Dig Dis Sci 45:517–524, 2000
Tack J, Piessevaux H, Coulie B, Caenepeel P, Janssens J: Role of impaired gastric accommodation to a meal in functional dyspepsia. Gastroenterology 115:1346–1352, 1998
Mertz H, Fullerton B, Naliboff E, Mayer E: Symptoms and visceral perception in severe functional and organic dyspepsia. Gut 42:814–822, 1998
Troncon L, Bennett R, Ahluwalia N, Thompson D: Abnormal distribution of food during gastric emptying in functional dyspepsia patients. Gut 35:327–332, 1994
Tack J, Broeckaert D, Coulie B, Janssens J: The influence of cisapride on gastric tone and the perception of gastric distension. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 12:761–766, 1998
Champion M, MacCannell K, Thompson AB, Tantou R, Eberhard S, Sullivan SN, Archambault A: A double-blind randomized study of cisapride in the treatment of nonulcer dyspepsia. The Canadian Cisapride NUD Group. Can J Gastroenterol 11:127–134, 1997
Rosch W: Efficacy of cisapride in the treatment of epigastric pain and concomitant symptoms in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Scand J Gastroenterol 165:54–58, 1989
Kellow J, Cowan H, Shuter B, Riley JW, Lunzer MR, Eckstein RP, Hoschl R, Lam SK: Efficacy of cisapride in functional dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 9:153–160, 1995
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Papadopoulou, A., Vazeou, A., Siafakas, C. et al. Nutritional Implications of Chronic Dyspepsia in Childhood. Dig Dis Sci 47, 32–37 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013299016879
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013299016879