Published online Sep 15, 1996. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v2.iSuppl1.225
Revised: February 21, 1996
Accepted: July 19, 1996
Published online: September 15, 1996
AIM: To study gastric liquid emptying and its effects in patients with liver cirrhosis.
METHODS: Gastric liquid emptying of 26 patients with cirrhosis and 14 health control was assessed by antrum square determination with real time ultrasonography, and fasting blood motilin and gastrin were measured by radioimmunoassay.
RESULTS: In the group of cirrhosis, half time for gastric emptying (GET1/2) was 34.53 ± 8.23 min, when compared with that of control group (28.06 ± 4.11 min), which was significantly delayed (P < 0.01). It verified that gastric liquid emptying of cirrhotic patients was impaired. GET1/2 was positively correlated with scores for upper gastrointestinal symptoms in cirrhotic patients (r = 0.426, P < 0.05). In patients with cirrhosis, GET 1/2 was in positively correlation with the degree of hepatic dysfunction. The concentrations of plasma motilin and serum gastrin were 418.54 ± 54.63 ng/L and 87.73 ± 24.37 ng/L, respectively, both of which were increased when compared to normal control (P < 0.01, all).
CONCLUSION: Gastric liquid emptying was delayed in patients with liver cirrhosis. Gastric motility disorder was an important cause of the upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with cirrhosis. We believe that in patients with cirrhosis, gastric liquid emptying disorder may be involved in hepatic dysfunction and the abnormal metabolism of gastrointestinal hormone.