[Gastric emptying of solids in chronic alcoholic hepatopathy: role of autonomic insufficiency]

Rev Clin Esp. 1991 Apr;188(7):349-54.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Thirty one subjects are studied, 15 healthy (controls) and 16 presenting chronic alcoholic hepatopathy, in whom the existence of an autonomic insufficiency syndrome (AIS) was evaluated measuring the variations in heart rate while breathing (R index) and after standing up [O(B) index]. Vagal functioning was also studied when evaluating gastric emptying of digestible solids (VGS) and non digestible (VGSND). VGS after 45, 75 and 105 minutes in alcoholic patients was slower than in healthy controls (p less than 0.05) and in 50% of them it was slow after 105 minutes. VGSND was similar in both groups. R and O(B) indexes in alcoholic patients was smaller than in the control group (p less than 0.001), presenting 94% of them some index altered. An elevated percentage of patients suffering chronic alcoholic hepatopathy present a AIS which involves several organs, being R and O(B) indexes a better diagnostic method than VGS study.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Gastric Emptying*
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology*