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Gastric emptying in myotonic dystrophy.
A Rönnblom1, S Andersson, P M Hellström
1Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
European Journal of Clinical Investigation
|August 23, 2002
Summary
Patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) experience slow gastric emptying, impacting quality of life. Erythromycin treatment showed minimal effect on emptying but reduced diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neuromuscular Disorders
Background:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms significantly affect quality of life in myotonic dystrophy (MD) patients.
- Slow gastric emptying is a suspected contributor to these symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gastric emptying in MD patients with relevant symptoms.
- To evaluate the efficacy of prokinetic treatment (erythromycin) on gastric emptying and symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Gastric emptying assessed using a (99)Tc-labelled test meal in 10 MD patients and healthy controls.
- Patients received erythromycin; gastric emptying and symptoms were reassessed.
Main Results:
- MD patients exhibited significantly delayed gastric emptying (longer lag phase, slower emptying, prolonged T50) compared to controls.
- Erythromycin did not accelerate gastric emptying.
- Treatment showed modest improvement in overall GI symptoms, notably reducing diarrhea.
Conclusions:
- Patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) demonstrate impaired gastric emptying, contributing to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and early satiety.
- Erythromycin offers limited benefit for gastric emptying and associated symptoms in MD, though it effectively reduces diarrhea.