Delayed gastric emptying in patients with chronic renal failure

Forty patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) were enrolled into the study, none of whom had peptic ulcer disease, amyloidosis, a previous abdominal operation, diabetes mellitus or other factors that could influence gastric emptying. Twenty of the 40 patients had been receiving regular haemodialysis (HD) for at least 1 year prior to the study. Twelve of the 40 patients had upper gastrointestinal symptoms/signs (GI Sx). Radionuclide-labelled solid meals were used to calculate gastric emptying time (GET). Twenty-five normal volunteers comprised the control group. Of the 40 patients, 35 (88%) had an abnormal GET. The incidence of an abnormal GET in HD and non-HD patients was 95 and 80%, respectively; the incidence of an abnormal GET in patients with and without upper GI Sx was 83 and 89%, respectively. These differences in the incidence of an abnormal GET among the HD and non-HD patients, as well as in the patients with and without upper GI Sx, were not statistically significant. There were no significant differences between the normal and abnormal GET patients for any of the following clinical parameters and conditions: dialyser-specific proportionality constant x time/urea distribution volume (KT/V), protein catabolic rate (PCR), ferritin, serum blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium ion, phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone, albumin, uric acid, haemoglobin, triglyceride and cholesterol, total dialysis time, creatinine clearance and daily urine protein. We conclude that in Chinese patients with CRF, both dialysed and undialysed, an abnormal GET is common. The pathogenesis seems to be multifactorial. The presence of abdominal symptoms cannot foretell an abnormal GET.