Total and segmental colonic transit time in non ulcer dyspepsia.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with non ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) often have associated lower alimentary tract symptoms which are labelled as due to the irritable bowel syndrome. AIMS: To asymptomatic colonic dysmotility is present in patients with NUD. METHODS: We studied total and segmental colonic transit times in 25 patients with NUD (14 men age range 20-70 yr), and 25 matched normal controls (13 men; 18-50 yr), using the multiple-marker, single-film technique. Twenty markers each were administered at 0, 9 and 18 h and an abdominal film taken at 27 h. RESULTS: Total colonic transit time was shorter (median 9 h) in patients with NUD as compared to controls (median 15.8 h) p = 0.0018, with similar segmental motility pattern as in controls. There was no significant difference between the symptom subgroups of NUD. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NUD often have altered colonic transit even in the absence of symptoms. NUD may therefore be only a subset of diffuse gastrointestinal dysmotility with predominant proximal alimentary tract symptoms, whereas the term irritable bowel syndrome is used when lower tract symptoms predominate.