Gastric emptying in thyroid disorders

Abstract EN

Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in thyroid disease with constipation often occurs in hypothyroidism, and hyperdefecation may associate hyperthyroidism.

These symptoms are usually attributed to altered gastrointestinal motility.

The present work was designed to study the changes of gastric emptying in thyroid disorders, and to evaluate the effect of restoring euthyroid state on the changes of gastric emptying.

The study included 15 hypothyroid patients, 15 hyperthyroid patients and 10 healthy subjects as a control group.

Solid-gastric emptying was performed scintigraphically by using a gamma camera for all subjects, and was repeated in 8 hypothyroid patients and 8 hyperthyroid patients after euthyroid state was achieved by medical treatment.

Gastric half emptying time (GHETs) was significantly prolonged in hypothyroid patients compared to healthy subjects (119.2±5.12 vs 90.84±3.688 min, P<0.001).

On comparing hyperthyroid patients to the con trol group GHETs was significantly shorter (83.807±3.07 vs 90.84±3.688 min, P<0.001).

GHETs in hypothyroid patients after treatment, was significantly decreased compared to that before treatment (92.563 ± 2.799 vs 119 ± 5.12 min, P < 0.001), and was non significantly different from GHETs in the control group (92.563 ± 2.799 vs 90.84 ± 3.688 min, P>0.05).

In patients with hyperthyroidism, GHETs after treatment, was significantly increased compared to that before treatment (90.487 ± 1.943 vs 83.807 ± 3.07 min, P < 0.001), and was non significantly different from GHETs in healthy subjects (90.487 ± 1.943 vs 90.84 ± 3.688min, P > 0.05).