Gastroparesis

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Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a medical condition consisting of a paresis (partial paralysis) of the stomach, resulting in food remaining in the stomach for a longer time than normal. Normally, the stomach contracts to move food down into the small intestine for digestion. The vagus nerve controls these contractions. Gastroparesis may occur when the vagus nerve is damaged and the muscles of the stomach and intestines do not work normally. Food then moves slowly or stops moving through the digestive tract.

Causes[edit]

Transient gastroparesis may arise in acute illness of any kind, as a consequence of certain cancer treatments or other drugs which affect digestive action, or due to abnormal eating patterns.

It is frequently caused by autonomic neuropathy. This may occur in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In fact, diabetes mellitus has been named as the most common cause of gastroparesis, as high levels of blood sugar may effect chemical changes in the nerves.^[1] The vagus nerve becomes damaged by years of high blood glucose or simply by having diabetes for a long time, resulting in gastroparesis. Other possible causes include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and damage to the vagus nerve. Gastroparesis has also been associated with connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease.^[2] It may also occur as part of a mitochondrial disorder.

Chronic gastroparesis can be caused by other types of damage to the vagus nerve, such as abdominal surgery.^[3] Heavy cigarette smoking is also a plausible cause since smoking causes damage to the stomach lining.

Idiopathic gastroparesis (gastroparesis with no known cause) accounts for a third of all chronic cases; it is thought that many of these cases are due to an autoimmune response triggered by an acute viral infection. "Stomach flu", mononucleosis, and other ailments have been anecdotally linked to the onset of the condition, but no systematic study has proven a link.

Gastroparesis sufferers are disproportionately female. One possible explanation for this finding is that women have an inherently slower stomach emptying time than men.^[4] A hormonal link has been suggested, as gastroparesis symptoms tend to worsen the week before menstruation when progesterone levels are highest.^[5] Neither theory has been proven definitively.

Signs and symptoms[edit]

The most common symptoms of gastroparesis are^[6]

• Chronic nausea
• Chronic diarrhea
• Vomiting (especially of undigested food)
• Early stage

Other symptoms include

• Palpitations
• Heartburn
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal bloating
• Erratic blood glucose levels
• Lack of appetite
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Spasms of the stomach wall

Morning nausea may also indicate gastroparesis. Vomiting may not occur in all cases, as sufferers may adjust their diets to include only small amounts of food.^[5]

Diagnosis and treatment[edit]

Gastroparesis can be diagnosed with tests such as x rays, manometry, and gastric emptying scans. The clinical definition for gastroparesis is based solely on the emptying time of the stomach (and not on other symptoms), and severity of symptoms does not necessarily correlate with the severity of gastroparesis. Therefore, some patients may have marked gastroparesis with few, if any, serious complications.

Treatment includes dietary changes (low-fiber and low-residue diets and, in some cases, restrictions on fat and/or solids); oral medications such as metoclopramide (Reglan, Maxolon, Clopra), cisapride (Propulsid) (no longer available in the US or Australia), erythromycin (E-Mycin, Erythrocin, Ery-Tab, EES) and domperidone (Motilium) (no longer available in the US; can be prescribed/obtained in Canada); adjustments in insulin dosage for those with diabetes; a jejunostomy tube; parenteral nutrition; implanted gastric neurostimulators ("stomach pacemakers"); or botulinum toxin (botox injected into the pylorus).

Viagra, which increases blood flow to the genital area, is being used by some practitioners to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract in cases of diabetic gastroparesis.^{[citation needed]}

The antidepressant mirtazapine has proven effective in the treatment of gastroparesis unresponsive to conventional treatment. This is due to its anti-emetic and appetite stimulant properties. Mirtazapine acts on the same serotonin receptor (5-HT3) as the popular anti-emetic ondansetron.^[7]

Complications[edit]

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Primary complications of gastroparesis include:

• Fluctuations in blood glucose due to unpredictable digestion times (in diabetic patients)
• General malnutrition due to the symptoms of the disease (which frequently include vomiting and reduced appetite) as well as the dietary changes necessary to manage it
• Severe fatigue and weight loss due to calorie deficit
• Intestinal obstruction due to the formation of bezoars (solid masses of undigested food)
• Bacterial infection due to overgrowth in undigested food

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• [1] Gastroparesis Awareness Northwest, All you need to know about Gastroparesis.
• [2] Gastroparesis Awareness
• [3] Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign Organization
• G-PACT Gastroparesis Patient Association
• Overview from NIDDK National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases at NIH
• Overview at Mayo Clinic
• Overview at University of Chicago Hospitals
• Patient Perspective at the icarecafe
• [4] Diabetic Neuropathy (emedicine.com)]
• [5] Patient Blog: Living with Gastroparesis
• [6] Health & Nutrition Counseling Services for Gastroparesis Patients