Review article: current and emerging therapies for functional dyspepsia

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Background:

• Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prevalent, chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by upper abdominal pain or discomfort.
• FD symptoms often overlap with other functional bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and non-erosive reflux disease, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
• Psychological distress frequently coexists with FD, impacting symptom presentation and therapeutic response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of functional dyspepsia, including its evolving definition, overlapping symptoms, and societal burden.
• To explore suspected physiological mechanisms underlying FD, such as altered motility, visceral sensation, inflammation, and nervous system dysregulation.
• To discuss the limitations of current treatments and the development of emerging therapies aimed at normalizing gut function and pain perception.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of functional dyspepsia definitions, overlapping conditions, and suspected pathophysiological mechanisms.
• Analysis of current treatment modalities, including dietary, pharmacological, psychological, and alternative therapies.
• Examination of emerging therapies targeting pain perception and gastrointestinal motor and reflex function.

Main Results:

• Despite extensive research, the precise definition and pathophysiological mechanisms of FD remain controversial and difficult to delineate in individual patients.
• Current treatments for FD, encompassing diverse approaches, have generally yielded only marginal improvements in patient outcomes.
• A range of novel therapies are under development, focusing on restoring normal gastrointestinal function and modulating pain signaling.

Conclusions:

• Functional dyspepsia is a complex and burdensome disorder with unclear underlying mechanisms, necessitating further research.
• Existing treatments offer limited efficacy, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic strategies.
• Emerging therapies hold promise for improving the management of functional dyspepsia by addressing key physiological dysfunctions.