Gastric emptying study in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis

Background - Dyspeptic symptoms are frequent in renal patients. They are anorexia, nausea, vomit, pain and epigastric distension. These symptoms can be related to the delay in gastric emptying. Aim - To investigate gastric emptying in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis treatment. Method - Thirty one subjects (18-60 y) were studied, 14 on hemodialysis for at least 6 months and 17 healthy subjects). Patients with diabetes, amyloidosis, collagenous disease, pregnant, dyspeptic complaints, gastric surgery and patients taking procinetics drugs were excluded. Gastric emptying was investigated with radionuclide scintigraphy, using a dual-head scintillation camera. The standard test meal consisted of 185 MBq of technetium-99m sulfur colloid mixed with three scrambled eggs. For each study group a time-activity curve of gastric retention was generated and from that the T1/2 of gastric emptying was obtained. Results - The groups were similar both in gender and age. There was no significant statistical difference in total retention curves between the two studied groups. Also the T1/2 of gastric emptying was similar in the two groups. Conclusion - Gastric emptying of patients on hemodialysis treatment for at least 6 months was not different from the health subjects.