Alterations in Upper Gastrointestinal Motility in Helicobacter pylori-positive Nonulcer Dyspepsia

Objective: To study the association between gastrointestinal motility and Helicobacter pylori (HP) among patients with nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Methods: We examined the gastric emptying and orocecal transit times (OCTT) in patients with NUD who were colonized with Helicobacter pytori (n = 27). NUD was defined as dyspeptic symptoms for at least 3 months in the absence of gastrointestinal pathology as seen on endoscopy and ultrasound. Subjects with diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorder, or abdominal surgery except appendectomy were excluded. The HP-negative patients with NUD (n = 38) served as controls. Solid phase gastric emptying was assessed by radionuclide scintigraphy. OCTT was determined by measuring exhaled breath hydrogen upon administration of lactulose. Results: The two groups were similar with respect to age, sex, race, and history of smoking. Gastric emptying (t_1/2) was 64.96 ± 3.61 min in the HP-negative and 61.0 ± 6.59 in the HP-positive group ( p =NS). The OCTT was 130.9 ± 17.26 minutes in the HP-negative and 84.28 ± 11.07 in the HP-positive group ( p = 0.03). There was no difference in the prevalence of nonhydrogen producers between the two groups. There was no correlation between gastric emptying and OCTT ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: OCTT is faster among HP-positive patients with NUD than among HP-negative patients. However, gastric emptying is similar in the two groups.