Abnormal gastrocolic response in patients with intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

Gastrointestinal motility disturbances after endogenous stimuli have been demonstrated only in the esophagus and small intestine in patients with chronic idiopathic pseudo-obstruction. The 1,000-calorie meal stimulated a significant increase in spike and contractile activity in normal subjects. No increase in colonic spike or contractile activity occurred in patients with chronic idiopathic pseudo-obstruction even though colonic motility increased normally following the administration of neostigmine methylsulfate. These findings suggest that the normal response to eating is absent in patients with chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction even though their smooth muscle has been shown to be responsive to cholinergic stimulation. This loss of a gastrocolic response is further evidence for a disorder of the neurohumoral control mechanisms in patients with chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.