Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Dec;14(4):410-419.
doi: 10.1007/s11938-016-0113-z.

Chronic Unexplained Nausea and Vomiting or Gastric Neuromuscular Dysfunction (GND)? An Update on Nomenclature, Pathophysiology and Treatment, and Relationship to Gastroparesis

Affiliations
Review

Chronic Unexplained Nausea and Vomiting or Gastric Neuromuscular Dysfunction (GND)? An Update on Nomenclature, Pathophysiology and Treatment, and Relationship to Gastroparesis

Kimberly N Harer et al. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Chronic unexplained nausea and vomiting is a debilitating condition that dramatically decreases patient quality of life and creates diagnostic and treatment challenges for healthcare providers. Additionally, the significant overlap in symptoms between disorders such as chronic unexplained nausea and vomiting, gastroparesis, and functional dyspepsia has resulted in a blurring of diagnostic lines and added confusion to the therapeutic approach. The identified overlap in clinical symptoms also suggests a common underlying pathophysiological mechanism may drive these conditions, indicating they could possibly be part of a spectrum of gastric neuromuscular disorders instead of discrete processes. This article will discuss the classification, updates in pathophysiology and therapeutic research, and future directions of research in the treatment of chronic unexplained nausea and vomiting.

Keywords: Chronic unexplained nausea and vomiting; Gastroparesis; Gastroparesis-like dysfunction; Nausea; Vomiting.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Kimberly N. Harer declares no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Stanghellini V, Chan FKL, Hasler WL, Malagelada JR, Suzuki H, Tack J, Talley NJ. Gastroduodenal Disorders. Gastroenterology. 2016;150:1380–1392. This article outlines the Rome IV criteria for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, focusing on gastroduodenal disorders such as functional dyspepsia and Chronic Nausea and Vomiting Syndrome.

    1. Pasricha, et al. Characteristics of patients with chronic unexplained nausea and vomiting and normal gastric emptying. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2011;9:567–576. Multi-center study published by the Gastroparesis Consortium that compared patients with gastroparesis symptoms and either delayed emptying (gastroparesis) or normal gastric emptying (CUNV). Investigators found the two groups to be clinically indistinguishable.

    1. Anaparthy R, Pehlivanov N, Grady J, et al. Gastroparesis and gastroparesis-like syndrome: Response to therapy and its predictors. Dig Dis Sci. 2009;54:1003–1010. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Olden KW, Crowell MD. Chronic nausea and vomiting: New insights and approach to treatment. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol. 2005;8:305–310. - PubMed
    1. Drossman DA, Corazziari E, Delvaux M, et al. Rome III: The Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. 2006:1377–1556. - PubMed