Evidence of accelerated gastric emptying in longstanding diabetic patients after ingestion of a semisolid meal

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of accelerated gastric emptying in 40 consecutive nonselected patients with longstanding insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (range 11-54 yr; mean 27 yr).

Methods: The gastric emptying of a semisolid meal labeled with 99mTc was continuously recorded with a dual-head gamma camera for 90 min in patients who were supine.

Results: Eleven patients demonstrated delayed gastric emptying, but three male diabetics showed accelerated gastric emptying with retention values that were different from controls already after 10 min of recording (89% +/- 3% versus 96% +/- 4%; p < 0.02). During the 90-min segment, accelerated gastric emptying reduced initial gastric contents to 11% +/- 8% (p < 0.001) as compared to 50% +/- 10% in control subjects and 78% +/- 6% (p < 0.001) in patients with delayed gastric emptyings. Accelerated gastric emptying was characterized by an almost equal initial meal distribution in proximal and distal compartments of stomach, both emptying approximately 90% of their contents within 90 min. Normal and delayed gastric emptying was characterized by a 60%-40% initial ratio of meal distribution between gastric compartments. During normal emptying, both compartments reduced contents with approximately 50%, but delayed gastric emptying was caused by only a 15% reduction of proximal contents accompanied by a 34% reduction in distal contents.

Conclusion: Recording in the supine position to abolish gravitational influences demonstrated accelerated gastric emptying of a firm semisolid meal with a prevalence of 8%. However, delayed gastric emptying was shown as the predominant gastric manifestation of longstanding insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with a prevalence of 28%.