Postprandial symptoms in patients with symptoms of gastroparesis: roles of gastric emptying and accommodation

Patients with delayed and normal gastric emptying (GE) had similar symptom profiles during gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES). Idiopathic patients with symptoms of gastroparesis had less gastric retention by GES; but more symptoms after GES meal and after water load satiety test (WLST) compared with diabetic patients. In patients with symptoms of gastroparesis, symptoms after WLST increased with decreasing water consumption. Early satiety and loss of appetite were associated with decreased water consumption during WLST. Thus, impaired accommodation and perhaps visceral hypersensitivity are important in explaining postprandial symptoms in gastroparesis.