Gastric Hypersensitivity in Nonulcer Dyspepsia

Visceral hypersensitivity is claimed to be involved in the pathogenesis of nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD). We evaluated whether gastric hypersensitivity is a consistent ® nding in an unselected group of NUD patients. In 11 patients and 20 healthy controls, a standardized gastric distension was performed using a gastric barostat. Perception was scored by a questionnaire and compared between the two groups. There was a linear pressure/volume relationship during gastric distension in both groups. The pain threshold in NUD patients was signi® cantly lower compared to controls [5.5 6 4.0 mm Hg above minimal distending pressure (mdp) and 10.2 6 2.2 mm Hg above mdp, respectively, P , 0.004], irrespective of the H. pylori status. However, more than 50% of the NUD perception scores were in the control range at most distension levels. Gastric hypersensitivity could be con® rmed in NUD patients as a group. However, there is a considerable overlap concerning perception in response to distension between unselected NUD patients and controls.