Autonomic and enteric function profiling can predict disordered gastric emptying in diabetic gastropathy

Gastric emptying tests (GET) are the gold standard for diagnosing gastroparesis, but many patients do not have delayed emptying. We aimed to examine the combination of autonomic nervous system testing (ANS) and the enteric measure (ENS) of electrogastrography (EGG) to predict disordered GET. Seventy-six patients (47 F, 29 M mean age 40 years) with diabetes mellitus underwent evaluation for end-organ failure including gastroparesis. ANS testing assessed autonomic function by finger capillary pulse to positional changes (PAR), vasoconstriction to cold (VC), and EKG R-R interval change (RRI) with deep breathing; the ENS measures of cutaneous EGG assessed gastric myoelectrical activity. Solid (S) GET subgroups were based on 50% emptying (TS50). Via linear regression analysis: VC, PAR, and EGG had a significant inverse correlation with GET TS50 and decreased in response to a delay in gastric emptying (p < 0.05). Via ordinal logistic regression RRI and EGG-predicted gastric emptying (p < 0.01). Patients with a higher RRI and EGG value were 0.93 and 0.14 times more likely to be diagnosed with rapid gastric emptying. The areas under the curve for receiver operator characteristics (AUROC) for all measures were 0.72 in comparison to 0.59 with EGG. Based on the results, four components (RRI, VC, PAR, and EGG) quantitatively describe gastric emptying in patients with signs of diabetic gastropathy better than EGG alone.