ABSTRACT
In a prospective controlled study, 32 patient with chronic renal failure (CRF) and 11 healthy volunteers were evaluated for solid gastric emptying at our institute over a period of 2 years. The study sought to identify the incidence of abnormal gastric emptying in these patients, the factors influencing the development of abnormal gastric emptying and whether gastrointestinal symptoms correlated with abnormal gastric emptying. The efficacy of prokinetic drugs Cisapride and Erythromycin in improving delayed gastric emptying in these patients with CRF was also compared and evaluated. We observed delayed gastric emptying in 69% of our patients. About 50% of our patients with delayed gastric emptying had no gastrointestinal symptoms suggesting a poor correlation between the two. Delayed gastric emptying was observed frequently in patients with peripheral neuropathy and/or autonomic neuropathy. Gastric emptying in CRF appears to be independent of age, sex, duration of disease, BUN, creatinine and H. phylori infection. Oral Cisapride and Erythromcin are effective gastrokinetic agents in these patients. Identification of delayed gastric emptying in patients with CRF and treatment with these drugs may reduce gastrointestinal symptom related morbidity.