[Evaluation of stomach emptying in patients with hyperthyroidism]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Hyperthyroidism can affect gastrointestinal motility.
• Gastric emptying (GE) kinetics in hyperthyroid patients require further investigation, especially during treatment.
• Understanding GE changes is crucial for managing hyperthyroidism and its associated symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the gastric emptying (GE) kinetics of a solid meal in hyperthyroid patients undergoing thiamazole treatment.
• To assess GE changes from diagnosis through treatment to euthyroid restoration.
• To compare GE parameters between hyperthyroid patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Study included 14 female hyperthyroid patients and 12 age-matched healthy controls.
• Gastric emptying (GE) was assessed using a 99mTc-labelled solid meal and gamma camera imaging.
• Measurements included mean gastric transit time (MTT90) and fraction of meal retained at 90 min (F90) at baseline, week 3 of treatment, and after euthyroid restoration.

Main Results:

• Before treatment and during the third week of thiamazole therapy, GE in hyperthyroid patients was not significantly different from controls.
• Upon achieving euthyroid status, a statistically significant increase in GE was observed (faster emptying, lower F90).
• Euthyroid patients exhibited significantly faster GE (both MTT90 and F90) compared to healthy controls.

Conclusions:

• Gastric emptying of solids in hyperthyroid women does not differ from healthy controls and remains stable during initial pharmacological treatment.
• Restoration of euthyroid status leads to a statistically significant acceleration of gastric emptying.
• Thyroid hormone levels appear to influence gastric emptying kinetics.