Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Author Spotlight: Reliable and Reproducible In Vitro Assessment of Drug Impact on Rat Intestinal Tubes
Published on: July 26, 2024
Gastric motility and pulmonary function in children with functional abdominal pain disorders and asthma: A
Manori Vijaya Kumari1, Lakmali Amarasiri2, Shaman Rajindrajith3
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine & Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Insights
Children with asthma and functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) show impaired gastric motility. This suggests a shared smooth muscle dysfunction may link these conditions, impacting both airways and the gastrointestinal tract.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Clinical Physiology
Background:
- Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) and asthma are frequently associated in children.
- The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms linking FAPDs and asthma remain unclear.
- This study investigates shared mechanisms using gastric motility and lung function assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential pathophysiological links between FAPDs and asthma in children.
- To compare gastric motility and lung function in children with FAPDs, asthma, both, and healthy controls.
- To explore correlations between gastrointestinal and respiratory parameters.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional comparative study involving 96 children (7-12 years) across four groups: asthma only, FAPDs only, both, and healthy controls.
- Asthma diagnosis confirmed by history and bronchodilator reversibility; FAPDs diagnosed using Rome IV criteria.
- Gastric motility assessed via ultrasound; pulmonary function evaluated using spirometry.
Main Results:
- Significantly impaired gastric motility parameters (emptying rate, contraction amplitude, motility index) were observed in children with FAPDs, asthma, or both, compared to controls.
- Pulmonary function tests showed impaired airway obstruction in children with asthma and those with both conditions, but not in FAPDs-only group.
- Antral motility index positively correlated with FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25-75% in children with comorbid asthma and FAPDs.
Conclusions:
- Gastric motor functions are significantly impaired in children across all groups with FAPDs and/or asthma.
- Gastric motility index correlates with lung function parameters, suggesting a shared pathway.
- A primary disturbance in smooth muscle activity may underlie the association between asthma and FAPDs.
Background:
An association has been shown between functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) and asthma. However, the exact reason for this association is obscured. The main objective of this study is to identify the possible underlying pathophysiological mechanisms for the association between FAPDs and asthma using gastric motility and lung function tests.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional comparative study that consisted of four study groups. Twenty-four children (age 7-12 years) each were recruited for four study groups; asthma only, FAPDs only, both asthma and FAPDs, and healthy controls. Asthma was diagnosed using the history and bronchodilator reversibility test. The diagnosis of FAPDs was made using Rome IV criteria. All subjects underwent ultrasound assessment of gastric motility and pulmonary function assessment by spirometry, using validated techniques.
Results:
All gastric motility parameters, gastric emptying rate, amplitude of antral contraction, and antral motility index, were significantly impaired in children with FAPDs only, children with asthma only, and children with both asthma & FAPDs, compared to controls (p<0.05). Pulmonary function parameters indicating airway obstruction (FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow rate, FEF25-75%) were not impaired in children with FAPDs only compared to controls (p>0.05), but significantly impaired in children with asthma and children with both disorders. Antral motility index correlated with the FEV1/FVC ratio (r = 0.60, p = 0.002) and FEF25%-75% (r = 0.49, p = 0.01) in children with both asthma and FAPDs.
Conclusions:
Gastric motor functions were significantly impaired in children with asthma, children with FAPDs, and children with both disorders. Motility index, measuring overall gastric motor activity, showed a significant positive correlation with lung function parameters that measure airflow limitation. Therefore, these diseases might arise as a result of primary disturbance of smooth muscle activity in the airways and gastrointestinal wall, which could be a possible pathophysiological mechanism for this association between asthma and FAPDs.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:20Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders
01:16Gastric Motility
Peristaltic Waves and Chyme Formation
Upon food entry, the stomach initiates...
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:28Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
01:30Other Disorders of Digestive System
01:26Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and...