Gastric emptying and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with atrophic gastritis and the effects of domperidone.

The relationship of gastric emptying of liquid to the extent of fundal gastritis and gastrointestinal symptoms was investigated in a total of 37 subjects comprising healthy controls with no gastrointestinal symptoms and patients with constant gastrointestinal symptoms for at least 1 year. Gastric emptying was measured by the acetaminophen absorption method, and the extent of fundal gastritis was determined by the endoscopic Congo-red test developed at this hospital. Gastric emptying was significantly slower in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms than in healthy subjects. It was also significantly slower in patients with than in those without severe fundal gastritis. Gastrointestinal symptoms were significantly more frequent in patients with delayed gastric emptying. The acute effect of oral administration of domperidone on gastric emptying was examined. A single dose of domperidone (20 mg) significantly increased the rate of gastric emptying.