Recurrent retching with gastric mucosal prolapse. A proposed prolapse gastropathy syndrome

A clinical syndrome is described in 22 patients who present with epigastric pain alone or with hematemesis which is associated with a precedent history of recurrent early morning retching or postprandial retching. The characteristic endoscopic finding is a knuckle of inflamed and sometimes bleeding gastric mucosa which repeatedly prolapses into the esophageal lumen during retching. Other upper gastrointestinal lesions are not found. Retching is thought to cause the forceful prolapse and subsequent traumatization of gastric mucosa. The episodes of vigorous retching and resultant gastric trauma are now considered to be the cause of the abdominal pain and hematemesis, and it is proposed that this combination of clinical features illustrates a distinct syndrome which we have called prolapse gastropathy. This condition is a significant cause of hematemesis and abdominal pain in a group of nonalcoholic patients who demonstrate an unusual sensitivity to gag and retch.