The Effect of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Gastric Emptying in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia

Lee, Seung Yup; Lee, Young Doo; Jeon, Seong Woo; Tak, Won Young; Kweon, Young Oh; Kim, Sung Kook; Choi, Yong Hwan; Chung, Jun Mo; Keum, Min Su

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection on individual dyspeptic symptoms and parameters of gastric emptying rate in patients with functional dyspepsia.
METHODS
The thirty-two patients with functional dyspepsia were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups (H. pylori-positive group and H. pylori-negative group). For the patients of both groups, eight symptoms of dyspepsia were scored to obtain an index of dyspepsia, and gastric emptying of a solid meal were studied.
RESULTS
Half gastric emptying time (t1/2) was 84.2+/-31.0 min in H. pylori positive group and 82.2+/-26.9 min in H. pylori-negative group. There was no correlation between gastric emptying and H. pylori infection. In comparison of dyspeptic subtype (ulcer like dyspepsia, dysmotility like dyspepsia, mixed type), symptom severity (2.6+/-0.6 vs 2.4+/-0.7, P=0.28), and dyspeptic index (2.6+/-1.2 vs 3.0+/-1.6, P=0.4), there was no difference between the patients with and without H. pylori infection. Moreover, individual dyspeptic symptoms except vomiting are not correlated with gastric emptying time.
CONCLUSIONS
We believe that H. pylori infection does not affect gastric emptying and any individual symptoms of patients with functional dyspepsia.