FUNCTIONAL DISORDER OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT: NONULCER DYSPEPSIA

Background: Nonulcer dyspepsia is a common, but poorly defined symptom complex occurring in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Because of the uncertainty of definition, pathogenesis, and relationship between symptom resolution and treatment, the optimal management strategy has long been controversial. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the incidence, causes, clinical manifestations, and methods of treatment in nonulcer dyspepsia. Methods: 38 patients aged 19 to 74 years with nonulcer dyspepsia were examined from August 2003 to December 2007. According to complaints, 81.6% of patients were referred to nonspecific dyspepsia; 13.1% of patients were referred to dysmotility-like dyspepsia and 5.3% of patients were referred to ulcer-like dyspepsia. Results: 30 patients were assessed by Rome II modular questionnaire designed for patients. Two patients after medical therapy had mild pain in midepigastric area, one woman had cyclic vomiting. For one patient there was not any improvement in condition after treatment. The rest of the patients, 86.7%, did not have any clinical sign of nonulcer dyspepsia. Conclusions: Our study revealed that the main cause of nonulcer dyspepsia was duodenogastric reflux. The empirical therapy is advisable in patients who do not have signs or symptoms of an underlying organic disorder, such as gastric ulcer or cancer.