Abstract
Orthostatic hypotension syndromes may be associated with visceral denervation, resulting in disturbances of the gastrointestinal and urinary systems. This report analyzes the findings in 9 patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and gastrointestinal symptoms. Antral and proximal small intestinal motor dysfunction was demonstrated in all patients: a significant reduction (p = 0.007) in the number of interdigestive motor complexes during 3 h of fasting (mean 0.4 vs. 1.3 controls); absence of gastric component in interdigestive motor complexes observed; incoordination of fasting and fed antral activity; and development of nonpropagating bursts of phase III-like activity in the intestine that were of at least 2-min duration, high amplitude and frequency, and associated with tonic elevations in baseline pressure. These motor abnormalities may provide a potential means for the diagnosis of impaired autonomic supply to the upper gut.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1852-1859 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Gastroenterology |
Volume | 88 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1985 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology