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Clinical Autonomic Research
Published in: Clinical Autonomic Research 4/2013

01-08-2013 | Research Article

Gastric emptying in postural tachycardia syndrome: a preliminary report

Authors: Ki-Jong Park, Wolfgang Singer, David M. Sletten, Phillip A. Low, Adil E. Bharucha

Published in: Clinical Autonomic Research | Issue 4/2013

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Abstract

Purpose

Autonomic neuropathy is widely recognized to be associated with upper gastrointestinal symptoms and abnormal (i.e., rapid or slow) gastric emptying. While patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) may also have gastrointestinal symptoms, our understanding of gastric-emptying disturbances in POTS is very limited. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between gastric-emptying disturbances and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with POTS.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 22 well-characterized patients with POTS and upper gastrointestinal symptoms in whom autonomic (i.e., postganglionic sudomotor, cardiovagal, and adrenergic) functions and gastric emptying were evaluated using standardized techniques and scintigraphy, respectively. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively to assess clinical features, gastric emptying, and autonomic functions.

Results

Over 70 % of patients had nausea and/or vomiting, which was the most common GI symptom; other common symptoms were abdominal pain (59 %), bloating (55 %), and postprandial fullness/early satiety (46 %). Over one-third of patients had abnormal [i.e., rapid (27 %) or delayed (9 %)] gastric emptying. Gastric-emptying disturbances were not significantly associated with GI symptoms, autonomic symptoms or autonomic dysfunction.

Conclusions

Over one-third of patients with POTS and gastrointestinal symptoms have abnormal, more frequently rapid than delayed gastric emptying. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger cohort of patients.
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Metadata
Title
Gastric emptying in postural tachycardia syndrome: a preliminary report
Authors
Ki-Jong Park
Wolfgang Singer
David M. Sletten
Phillip A. Low
Adil E. Bharucha
Publication date
01-08-2013
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Clinical Autonomic Research / Issue 4/2013
Print ISSN: 0959-9851
Electronic ISSN: 1619-1560
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-013-0193-y

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