Gastric motility abnormalities in children suffering from cyclical vomiting syndrome

Abstract

AJMS; Cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS) is an uncommon, but bothersome upper gastrointestinal disorder seen in ap- roximately 0.5% of school aged children. Pathophysiology of this disorder is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gastric motility in children with CVS. METHODS : Consecutive 12 children [6 (50.0%) males, age 4-15years, mean 8.5 years, SD 3.2 years) referred to Gastro-nterology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, from January 2008'to December2012, were screened and those fulfilling Rome HI criteria for CVS were recruited. None-had clinical or laboratory vidence of organic disorders or other gastrointestinal disorders. Twenty healthy children were recruited as controls [8 (40%) males, age 4-14 years, mean 8.4 years, SD 3.0 years]. Fasting antral area (FAA), liquid gastric emptying rate GER) and antral motility parameters were assessed using a well-established and validated ultrasound method, RESULTS: Average GER (38.2% vs. 66.2%, in controls), amplitude of antral contractions (51.1% vs. 89%) and antral -lotuty index (4.6 vs. 8.3) were lower and FAA (1.6cm2 vs. 0.6cm2) was higher in patients with CVS (p < 0.0001). Fre-uency of antral contractions (8.8 vs. 9.3) did not show a significant difference (p - 0.07). Scores obtained for severity )f abdominal pain had a negative correlation with GER (r = -0.25, p < 0,0001), amplitude of antral contractions (r = ;030,/5 < 0.0001) and motility index (r = -0.30,;p < 0,0001). A positive correlations were observed between FAA and severity(r= 0.18,p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS : Gastric emptying rates and antral motility parameters are impaired in children with CVS. Furthermore, we 3served a significant correlation between symptom severity and gastric motility. These findings are suggestive of gastric lotility abnormalities in pathogenesis of CVS.