| Abstract: | The effect of H. pylori infection on gastricmotility and sensation is unclear. Our hypothesis isthat H. pylori infection increases gastric sensation andreduces gastric accommodation and emptying. In eight H. pylori-positive and eight H.pylori-negative asymptomatic subjects, infection wasproven by antral histology or culture. We evaluated: (1)gastric emptying of solids, (2) proximal gastriccompliance, (3) fasting and postprandial proximal gastrictone and phasic contractions, (4) gastric sensationduring balloon inflations or ingestion of cold water,and (5) abdominal vagal function. H. pylori infection was associated with lower gastric accommodation(median 75% postprandial increase in barostat balloonvolume compared to fasting) when compared to theaccommodation in uninfected volunteers (median 211% change from fasting). One H. pylori-positivesubject had an abnormal abdominal vagal function testand her gastric accommodation response was reduced.Other motor and sensory functions in the two groups were similar. In asymptomatic volunteers, H.pylori infection and gastritis result in reducedaccommodation (diastolic dysfunction) but no change inoverall sensation or motor functions of thestomach. |
