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Controlled Clinical Trial
. 2004 Dec 26:4:32.
doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-4-32.

Gastric emptying is slow in chronic fatigue syndrome

Richard B Burnet  1 , Barry E Chatterton
Affiliations
Controlled Clinical Trial

Gastric emptying is slow in chronic fatigue syndrome

Richard B Burnet et al. BMC Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of these symptoms and explore their relationship with objective (radionuclide) studies of upper GI function.

Methods: Thirty-two (32) patients with CFS and 45 control subjects completed a questionnaire on upper GI symptoms, and the 32 patients underwent oesophageal clearance, and simultaneous liquid and solid gastric emptying studies using radionuclide techniques compared with historical controls.

Results: The questionnaires showed a significant difference in gastric (p > 0.01) symptoms and swallowing difficulty. Nocturnal diarrhoea was a significant symptom not previously reported.5/32 CFS subjects showed slightly delayed oesophageal clearance, but overall there was no significant difference from the control subjects, nor correlation of oesophageal clearance with symptoms. 23/32 patients showed a delay in liquid gastric emptying, and 12/32 a delay in solid gastric emptying with the delay significantly correlated with the mean symptom score (for each p < 0.001).

Conclusions: GI symptoms in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome are associated with objective changes of upper GI motility.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Oesophageal clearance time compared with oesophageal symptoms in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. (Shaded area represents 95% confidence limit of normal reference range)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Per-cent gastric retention of solid food compared with mean symptom score in chronic fatigue syndrome. (Shaded area represents 95% confidence limit of normal reference range)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Time to 50% gastric emptying of liquid compared with mean symptom score in chronic fatigue syndrome. (Shaded area represents 95% confidence limit of normal reference range)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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