Factors Influencing Gastric Emptying Time in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Chung, Kyu Won; Chung, In Sik; Han, Joon Yeol; Kim, Jae Kwang; Park, Soo Heon; Kim, Jin Il; Na, Jon Soon; Sohn, Hyung Sun; Bhang, Choon Sang; Sun, Hee Sik

Abstract

Background/Airns: Although patients with cirrhosis often complain the gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion, little attention has been paid to the possible effects of portal hypertension on gut function. Frequently, endoscopic feature of patients with cirrhosis included congestive gastropathy. However, it has not been shown that whether gastric emptying time is delayed in cirrhotic patients with congestive gastropathy. The aims of this study were to evaluate the gastric emptying in cirrhotic patients with congestive gastropathy and to understand the factors causing the delay of gastric emptying time in patients with cirrhosis.
METHODS
Between April 1996 and September 1996, 30 cirrhotic patients with congestive gastropathy, 27 cirrhotic patients without congestive gastropathy, and 15 controls were participated in this study at St, Mary Hospital. All patients were subjected to evaluation of gastrointestinal symptom score, endoscopy, Child-Pugh score, and gastric emptying time with solid meal.
RESULTS
The gastric emptying time was longer in cirrhotic patients with congestive gastropathy than in controls (105.6+/-9.58 vs 72.4+/- 6.02 minutes), but there was no significant difference between cirrhotic patierits without congestive gastropathy and controls (93.7+/-7.93 vs 72.4 +6.02 minutes). Among Factors influencing gastric emptying time in cirrhosis such as congestive gastropathy, ascites, gastric varix, AST, ALT, Child-Pugh score, prothrombin time, age, albumin level, esophageal varix, and bilirubin, only the congestive gastropathy was statistically significant (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The gastric emptying time was delayed in cirrhotic patients who had congestive gastropathy. Thus, congestive gastropathy may contribute to the pathogenesis of delayed gastric emptying in cirrhosis.