Gastric emptying is slow in chronic fatigue syndrome

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Gastric emptying is slow in chronic fatigue syndrome

B Burnet <mailto:rburnet@...> and Barry E

Chatterton <mailto:barry.chatterton@...>

BMC Gastroenterology 2004, 4:32 doi:10.1186/1471-230X-4-32

Published 26 December 2004

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Abstract (provisional)

Background

Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in patients with Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome (CFS). The objective of this study was to determine the

frequency of these symptoms and explore their relationship with

objective (radionuclide) studies of upper GI function.

Methods

Thirty-two (32) patients with CFS and 45 control subjects completed a

questionnaire on upper GI symptoms, and the 32 patients underwent

oesophageal clearance, and simultaneous liquid and solid gastric

emptying studies using radionuclide techniques compared with historical

controls.

Results

The questionnaires showed a significant difference in gastric (p>0.01)

symptoms and swallowing difficulty. Nocturnal diarrhoea was a

significant symptom not previously reported. 5/32 CFS subjects showed

slightly delayed oesophageal clearance, but overall there was no

significant difference from the control subjects, nor correlation of

oesophageal clearance with symptoms. 23/32 patients showed a delay in

liquid gastric emptying, and 12/32 a delay in solid gastric emptying

with the delay significantly correlated with the mean symptom score (for

each p<<0.001).

Conclusion

GI symptoms in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome are associated

with objective changes of upper GI motility.