Functional dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia is defined as persistent or recurrent upper abdominal pain or discomfort not explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. In about half of the patients who present to their practitioner with chronic dyspepsia, no underlying disease is established after clinical investigation. Many clinical trials have been performed to demonstrate a certain relationship between functional dyspepsia and several pathogenic mechanisms like dysmotility, Helicobacter pylori infection, acid output and hypersensitivity to distension. Unfortunately, the conclusions of those studies are conflicting. Short-term follow-up, lack of consensus about diagnostic criteria for functional dyspepsia and unvalidated symptom measures make it difficult to interpret their results.     

消化不良与器质性疾病

引起消化不良样症状常见的器质性疾病有慢性消化性溃疡、胃食管反流(伴或不伴反流性食管炎)病及消化道恶性肿瘤等,其中较常见的有消化性溃疡病及胃食管反流病,少见的有胆道系统疾病与胰腺炎。罕见的有胃、胰腺或结肠的恶性肿瘤、胃的其他浸润性疾病、吸收不良综合征及血管异常等。一些药物及多种系统性疾病也会引起消化不良的临床表现(见表1)。功能性消化不良的诊断只有在排除了以上这些因素引起消化不良以后才能做出。     

Functional (nonulcer) dyspepsia

Opinion statement  

Functional dyspepsia: Impaired fundic accommodation

Opinion statement  

Functional dyspepsia: recent pathophysiological advances

Functional dyspepsia is a clinical syndrome defined by upper abdominal symptoms, without identifiable cause by conventional diagnostic evaluation. New diagnostic tests, such as gastrointestinal manometry and gastric emptying, may help in a better characterization of these patients by demonstrating specific motor abnormalities, such as postprandial antral hypomotility and delayed gastric emptying of solids, or less frequently, intestinal dysmotility patterns indicating a visceral neuropathy. Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of dyspeptic patients have normal motility patterns. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that a gastric hypersensitivity to distension may be the cause of the postprandial symptoms in functional dyspepsia. These data indicate that functional dyspepsia may include an heterogeneous group of patients with different underlying disturbances.     

Functional dyspepsia: evaluation and treatment

Functional dyspepsia is one of the most common disorders seen in general practice and by gastroenterologists. New concepts regarding the pathophysiology and its role for the symptom pattern have emerged during the last few years. This is of importance for development of new treatment alternatives in the near future. At the moment, however, empirical treatment with acid-suppressive agents and prokinetics is the recommended therapeutic approach in the management of these patients, despite limited efficacy. Identification and treatment of H pylori infection has been recommended for uninvestigated dyspepsia, because it may cure underlying peptic ulcer disease, but is unlikely to provide symptomatic benefit to patients with functional dyspepsia. Refractory patients may respond to antidepressants or to psychologic treatments, but proof of efficacy is limited. New and more effective approaches are badly needed for functional dyspepsia.     

Functional dyspepsia. Symptoms and underlying mechanism

We define the concept of functional dyspepsia and analyze the putative mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis. We consider the evidence for gastroduodenitis, including the relationship of spiral organisms and viruses in this entity, and for functional dyspepsia as a manifestation of gastric secretory dysfunction and upper gut dysmotility. Functional dyspepsia is probably a heterogeneous condition in which multiple etiopathogenetic mechanisms are involved. Nevertheless, patients with functional dyspepsia constitute a sizable fraction of gastroenterological practice and therefore this disorder deserves intense research.     

Functional dyspepsia： Are psychosocial factors of relevance？

The pathogenesis of Functional Dyspepsia (FD) remains unclear, appears diverse and is thus inadequately understood. Akin to other functional gastrointestinal disorders, research has demonstrated an association between this common diagnosis and psychosocial factors and psychiatric morbidity. Conceptualising the relevance of these factors within the syndrome of FD requires application of the biopsychosocial model of disease. Using this paradigm, dysregulation of the reciprocal communication between the brain and the gut is central to symptom generation, interpretation and exacerbation. Appreciation and understanding of the neurobiological correlates of various psychological states is also relevant. The view that psychosocial factors exert their influence in FD predominantly through motivation of health care seeking also persists. This appears too one-dimensional an assertion in light of the evidence available supporting a more intrinsic aetiological link. Evolving understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and the heterogeneous nature of the syndrome will facilitate effective management. Co-morbid psychiatric illness warrants treatment with conventional therapies. Acknowledging the relevance of psychosocial variables in FD, the degree of which is subject to variation, has implications for assessment and management. Available evidence suggests psychological therapies may benefit FD patients particularly those with chronic symptoms. The rationale for use of psychotropic medications in FD is apparent but the evidence base to support the use of antidepressant pharmacotherapy is to date limited.     

Functional dyspepsia: New insights into the pathophysiology

Abstract The pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia remains poorly understood. There is increasing evidence pointing to a predominant role of gastroduodenal visceral hypersensitivity in the pathogenesis, where patients have abnormally reduced gastric and small intestinal sensory thresholds. Motor abnormalities observed in subgroups of patients include delayed gastric emptying, antral hypomotility, gastric dysrhythmias, abnormal gastrointestinal reflexes and small intestinal dysmotility, but these may be secondary pheno nena. The central nervous system modifies peripheral visceral afferent pathways and, hente, psychological factors may possibly alter symptom status. Other putative mechanisms include Helicobacter pylori gastritis and gastric acid hypersecretion or sensitivity, but the role of these remain controversial.     

Functional dyspepsia and depression as an associated factor

AIM: To assess the association between depression and functional dyspepsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and forty eight dyspeptic patients were included in a cross-sectional study in the gastroenterology outpatient clinic of a University Hospital in southern Brazil (Pelotas, RS) within a 1-year period (from March, 2001 to March, 2002). The assessment of depression occurred after the diagnosis of dyspepsia. The presence (or not) of depression was verified in both functional and organic dyspeptic patients. In a second moment, the results were compared, an univariate analysis was used to describe the frequencies of the interest variables and a chi-square for the comparison between proportions of the categorical variables. The logistic regression technique was used to establish the odd of functional dyspeptic patients to present depression and to control the effect of other variables in the outcome variable RESULTS: Showed greater prevalence of depression among functional dyspepsia patients (30,4%), when compared to organic dyspepsia patients (11,2%). Women showed greater risk to present functional dyspepsia (OR: 1,74, IC 95%, 1,05-2,89) and in terms of age, the group with ages between 31 to 50 years (OR: 0,28 IC 95%, 0,13-0,54) and 51 to 60 years (OR: 0,41, IC 95%, 0,17-0,96) showed protection effect (subjects within this age groups have minor risk to present functional dyspepsia). After the multivariate analysis depressed patients showed three times greater comorbidity with functional dyspepsia when compared to non-depressed patients (OR 3, 13; IC 95%; 1, 71-5, 74). DISCUSSION: The adjustment for the gender, age and marital status variables confirmed the association between functional dyspepsia and depression. Results point the need to assess the presence of depression in functional dyspepsia patients and to establish specific treatment strategies for these patients.     

Functional dyspepsia: subgroups, history and outcomes

Dyspepsia is a symptom complex common both in the population and in clinical practice. Persons with dyspeptic symptoms who have not been evaluated are considered to have uninvestigated dyspepsia. If, after investigation, no structural or biochemical explanation is identified to explain the person's symptoms, the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia is made. While substantial efforts have been made to provide symptom-based criteria for the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia, the etiology and natural history of the disorder remains elusive. Population-based studies have often had difficulty distinguishing functional dyspepsia from irritable bowel syndrome. Clinically, there is clearly substantial overlap and many persons with functional dyspepsia either present with symptoms consistent with the irritable bowel syndrome or will develop such symptoms at a later date. Even if one can accept functional dyspepsia as an entity separate from irritable bowel syndrome, it is clearly a heterogeneous disorder. Unfortunately attempts using different strategies to subcategorize functional dyspepsia have not made progress with respect to elucidating pathophysiology or directing therapy. Importantly, most persons with functional dyspepsia experience symptom variability resulting in subgroup reassignment over time. Persons presenting with functional dyspepsia will likely remain symptomatic over time. Sadly, at the present time, gastroenterologists have little ability to predict what those symptoms will be, to understand the mechanism for their existence or to offer therapies that offer a reasonable likelihood of success based on a pathophysiologic rationale.     

Functional dyspepsia: A new Rome III paradigm

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a condition commonly seen in gastroenterological practice. With the introduction of Rome III criteria in 2006, a new approach for categorizing patients has been recommended. The diagnostic criteria suggest that meal-related and pain-predominant symptom groupings that presumably have distinct pathophysiologic mechanisms and potentially different therapeutic targets exist. The new classification is in the early stages of testing; in the meantime, the umbrella term of FD should continue to be utilized in clinical practice. Treatment of FD remains a major challenge. Unfortunately, most of the agents used in practice have limited or no evidence of efficacy, and the results typically are short-lived once therapy is ceased. Appropriate therapy currently is based on a consideration of putative pathophysiologic mechanisms. Testing for and eradicating Helicobacter pylori is a first-line strategy irrespective of the symptom pattern. In patients who have epigastric pain, antisecretory agents are recommended. Antacids, bismuth, and sucralfate seem to be no better than placebo. For meal-related symptoms such as postprandial fullness or early satiety, prokinetics may confer some benefit. However, few choices are available, and the efficacy for those drugs on the market is limited at best. Antidepressants are of uncertain efficacy but are widely used. Psychological therapies seem promising and may confer benefits on both pain and meal-related symptoms. Efficacy of complementary medicines has been suggested in controlled trials, but more data are needed. Emerging treatments include gastric fundus relaxors and visceral analgesics, although their application in FD is still in the preliminary stages.     

功能性消化不良346例临床分析

目的　探讨功能性消化不良 (FD)的病因 ,比较药物与精神心理疏导的临床反应。方法　对 346FD门诊病人 ,从精神心理指导 (启发开导和精神支持 )、生活指导 (生活饮食习惯 )及药物治疗 [安定、多虑平、西沙必利、法莫替丁、抗幽门螺杆菌 (H·pylori)药 ]三方面观察 ,比较其疗效。结果　治愈 2 2 5例 (6 5 % ) ,好转 5 2例 (15 % ) ,未愈 6 9例 (2 0 % ) ,总有效率 80 %。结论　FD是具有上腹部症状而无局部和全身器质性疾病证据的临床综合征 ,治疗上应重在精神心理指导 ,药物治疗宜简单 ,抗焦虑忧郁及促胃动力药物对多数患者有效 ,无需追求新药贵药。     

Functional dyspepsia is associated with cagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains

BACKGROUND: The antigen CagA can be used as a marker for virulence of Helicobacter pylori. It is tempting to assume that H. pylori strains positive for cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) could be responsible for functional dyspepsia. A cross-sectional study was performed in patients presenting with functional dyspepsia to correlate the clinical presentation with the presence of cagA-positive and -negative H. pylori strains. METHODS: Consecutive patients referred for endoscopy were studied. An inclusion criterion was the absence of any endoscopic abnormality. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the gastric antrum for HE and immunoperoxidase stain, rapid urease test, and culture. A serum sample was taken for detection of IgG antibodies against H. pylori as well as CagA. A validated questionnaire of 14 questions regarding the upper gastrointestinal tract was used for assessment of the clinical presentation. Nine questions were scored on a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: 422 patients were included, 222 were H. pylori-positive, the remaining 200 were H. pylori-negative. Mean symptom score in patients with cagA-positive strains was significantly higher than in patients with cagA-negative strains. No difference was present if cagA-negative patients were compared with H. pylori-negative dyspeptics. Four different complaints were more prevalent in the cagA-positive patients compared with cagA-negatives. When cagA-positive patients were compared with H. pylori-negative dyspeptics, seven complaints were significantly more prevalent in cagA-positives; when cagA-negatives were compared this number was only two. CONCLUSIONS: Functional dyspeptics with cagA-positive H. pylori strains have more dyspeptic symptoms and higher symptom scores than patients with cagA-negative H. pylori strains as well as H. pylori-negative functional dyspeptics.