Gastric Electrical Activity and Gastrointestinal Hormones in Dyspeptic Patients

<i>Aims:</i> To explore the patterns of gastric electrical activity, gastric emptying and gastrointestinal hormones in dyspeptic patients and relate them to <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> status. <i>Methods:</i> Twenty-two patients with functional dyspepsia and 29 healthy volunteers underwent cutaneous electrogastrography and dynamic ultrasound before and after a test meal. All dyspeptic patients underwent endoscopy and biopsy; all subjects were examined for the presence of antibodies to <i>H. pylori, </i>and the plasma levels of gastrin, neurotensin, cholecystokinin, and pancreatic polypeptide were measured. <i>Results:</i> The area under the curve (AUC) of the normal slow wave percentage was lower in dyspeptic patients than controls (Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.016; Dunn’s test: <i>H. pylori-</i>positive patients: 21,235.5 [19,101.0–22,688.8] vs. <i>H. pylori-</i>negative controls: 22,532.0 [20,133.0–23,755.0], p < 0.05). The AUC of the tachygastria percentage was higher in dyspeptic patients than controls (p = 0.0001; <i>H. pylori-</i>positive patients: 2,173.5 [325.8–3,055.3] vs. <i>H. pylori-</i>negative controls: 682.0 [118.5–1,902.4], p < 0.05; <i>H. pylori-</i>negative patients: 1,843.0 [1,107.0–4,277.0] vs. <i>H. pylori-</i>negative controls: 682.0 [118.5–1,902.4], p < 0.05). The AUC of gastrin was higher in <i>H. pylori-</i>positive than <i>H. pylori-</i>negative subjects (p = 0.0002; <i>H. pylori-</i>positive patients: 16,146.5 [11,368.8–33,141.7] vs. <i>H. pylori-</i>negative controls: 11,250.0 [5,674.0–17,448.0], p < 0.05; <i>H. pylori-</i>positive controls: 20,250.0 [12,070.0–64,430.0] vs. <i>H. pylori-</i>negative controls: 11,250.0 [5,674.0–17,448.0], p < 0.05). In the total group of dyspeptic patients and in the <i>H. pylori-</i>positive patients, a negative correlation was found between the AUC of neurotensin and the total score for postprandial fullness (dyspeptic patients r = –0.51, p = 0.01; <i>H. pylori-</i>positive patients r = –0.66, p = 0.02). <i>Conclusions:</i> In dyspeptic patients, alterations in gastric electrical activity were not related to <i>H. pylori </i>infection. Nevertheless, <i>H. pylori</i> infection induces higher gastrin levels in both patients and asymptomatic subjects.