Orocecal transit time in patients with celiac disease from North India: a case control study.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The mechanisms responsible for bowel disturbances in celiac disease are still unknown. Small bowel motor abnormalities may be involved in this pathological condition; however, there is no study addressing small bowel transit in patients of celiac disease from Northern India. METHOD: The mouth-to-cecum transit time was studied in 80 celiac patients and 80 age and sex matched apparently healthy controls. RESULTS: Orocecal transit time in celiac patients was significantly delayed being 180+/-10.6 minutes (Mean+/-SE) as compared to 105+/-12.4 minutes in apparently healthy controls. CONCLUSION: This prolonged orocecal transit time could be due to impaired small bowel function (deranged motility) in patients with celiac disease.