Is gastroparesis that is often detected in patients with alcoholic chronic liver disease a manifestation of an autonomic dysfunction syndrome? A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND

the autonomic dysfunction defines the neuropathy of the autonomic nervous system. The prevalence of the gastric dysmotility and its relationship with the autonomic dysfunction in patients with alcohol chronic liver disease is not well known.

METHODS

thirty-six patients with alcohol chronic liver disease and 25 healthy controls were evaluated, in order to detect an autonomic dysfunction through different cardiovascular reflexes and gastric emptying tests.

RESULTS

ninety-four per cent of the patients showed an impaired R index (variations in heart rate during six deep inspirations-expirations per minute) and/or S/S-HR (variations in heart rate when standing from a supine position). Seventy-five per cent of the patients showed gastroparesis (T1/2: gastric half-emptying time was delayed). There was a correlation between the R index and T1/2 (r = -0.49; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

we suggest that gastroparesis detected in alcoholic chronic liver disease is another clinical manifestation of the autonomic parasympathetic dysfunction.