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. 2025 Apr 21;25(1):121.
doi: 10.1007/s10238-025-01650-x.

Ultrasound-based assessment of impaired gastric emptying in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis

Hongxing Li  1   2 , Yi Luo  1 , Qinhui Zhang  1 , Linghong Dong  1 , Hanyang Liu  1 , Wensheng Yue  1 , Qirong Zhu  3 , Duo Huang  4
Affiliations

Ultrasound-based assessment of impaired gastric emptying in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis

Hongxing Li et al. Clin Exp Med. .

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the utility of gastric ultrasound in assessing gastric emptying dysfunction in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and its correlation with alterations in portal venous flow and liver stiffness. Gastric motility and emptying parameters, portal venous flow parameters, and liver stiffness were measured by ultrasound in 42 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and 48 healthy controls. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the differences in these parameters between the two groups and to analyze the correlation between gastric ultrasound parameters and alternations in portal venous blood flow and liver stiffness. Firstly, the Gastric Motility Index was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group, while other gastric ultrasound parameters were significantly higher (p < 0.01). Secondly, measurements obtained from two-dimensional ultrasound, Color Doppler Flow Imaging, and two-dimensional Shear Wave Elastography revealed that Portal Vein Diameter (PVD) and Liver Stiffness (LS) were significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group, while the maximum portal vein velocity (PVmax) was significantly lower (p < 0.01). Finally, correlation analysis demonstrated that gastric ultrasound parameters correlated with PVD, PVmax, and LS. Gastric function is significantly impaired in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis compared to controls, and gastric ultrasound parameters demonstrate a notable correlation with PVD, PVmax, and LS. Gastric ultrasound effectively evaluates gastric motility and emptying function in these patients, offering a reliable foundation for clinical diagnosis and management.

Keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; Gastric dynamics; Gastric emptying; Gastric ultrasound; Hepatic B cirrhosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Consent to publish: The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication of the images in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Ethics approval: This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College (Date March 29, 2024/No. 2024ER213-1).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Gastric motility parameters. a–d Respectively represent GPF (a), GWTR (b) and GMI (c, d) of a participant in the experimental group (female, 51 years old). e–h Respectively represent GPF (e), GWTR (f) and GMI (g, h) of a participant in the control group (female, 50 years old). GPF the frequency of gastric peristalsis, GWTR the gastric wall thickening rate, GMI the gastric motility index
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Gastric emptying rate of the proximal stomach. a–d Respectively represent the cross-sectional area of the proximal stomach after ingesting the contrast agent at T0 (a), T10 (b), T20 (c) and T30 (d) of a participant in the experimental group (female, 51 years old). e–h Respectively represent the cross-sectional area of the proximal stomach after ingesting the contrast agent at T0 (e), T10 (f), T20 (g) and T30 (h) of a participant in control group (female, 50 years old)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Gastric emptying rate of the distal stomach. a–d Respectively represent the cross-sectional area of the distal stomach after ingesting the contrast agent at T0 (a), T10 (b), T20 (c) and T30 (d) of a participant in the experimental group (female, 51 years old). e–h Respectively represent the cross-sectional area of the distal stomach after ingesting the contrast agent at T0 (e), T10 (f), T20 (g) and T30 (h) of a participant in control group (female, 50 years old)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Gastric emptying rate of the gastric antrum. a–d Respectively represent the cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum after ingesting the contrast agent at T0 (a), T10 (b), T20 (c) and T30 (d) of a participant in the experimental group (female, 51 years old). e–h Respectively represent the cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum after ingesting the contrast agent at T0 (e), T10 (f), T20 (g) and T30 (h) of a participant in control group (female, 50 years old)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Other ultrasound parameters. a–c Respectively represent PVD (a), PVmax (b) and LS (c) of a participant in the experimental group (female, 51 years old). d–f Respectively represent PVD (d), PVmax (e) and LS (f) of a participant in the control group (female, 50 years old). PVD the mean internal diameter of the portal vein, PVmax the maximal velocity of the portal vein, LS liver stiffness
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Comparison of gastric motility parameters between experimental and control groups
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Comparison of gastric emptying parameters between experimental and control groups
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Correlation analysis of gastric ultrasound parameters and PVD (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01)
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Correlation analysis of gastric ultrasound parameters and PVmax (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01)
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Correlation analysis of gastric ultrasound parameters and LS (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01)
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