Reversibility of gastric dysmotility in cortisol deficiency

This case documents scintigraphically that gastric dysmotility associated with hypoadrenalism secondary to hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction was reversed when the adrenal insufficiency was treated. The patient reported upon received almost immediate relief of symptoms after corticosteroid replacement therapy and improvement of gastric motility, as demonstrated by both liquid and solid phase 99mTc-labeled studies. This experience suggests that glucocorticoids are important permissive hormones for normal gastrointestinal motor function and may have a role in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal tract disease.