Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a frequently seen gastroduodenal functional disorder. It may present with postprandial fullness, early satiety, epigastric pain or burning.¹ Ranitidine has been shown to be an effective drug for acid-related FD.²

The pathophysiology of FD is not clearly known. Bioelectrical gastric slow-wave abnormalities seem to have a role in FD pathophysiology. Electrogastrography (EGG) is employed to record gastric electrical activity. However, the clinical associations are not well understood. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the clinical associations of EGG in FD.¹

Investigators searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases for articles using EGG in adults with FD. A total of 47 studies including 1751 FD patients and 555 controls were included in the analysis.

Key findings -

• FD patients spent less time in normogastria while fasted (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.74) as well as after a meal (-0.86), in comparison with controls.
• FD patients spent more time in bradygastria (0.63) and tachygastria (0.45) while fasted, compared to controls.
• There was no significant difference in the power ratio (-0.17) and dominant frequency meal-response ratio (0.06), in comparison with controls.
• There appeared to be inconsistent correlations between EGG metrics and the presence and timing of FD symptoms.

Abnormal gastric slow-wave rhythms are common in FD, as shown by EGG. Therefore, they seem to contribute to FD pathophysiology.

References

1. Varghese C, Carson DA, Bhat S, et al. Clinical associations of functional dyspepsia with gastric dysrhythmia on electrogastrography: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2021 Dec;33(12):e14151.
2. Hotz J, Plein K, Bunke R. The effectiveness of ranitidine in non-ulcer dyspepsia (functional dyspepsia) in comparison with an antacid. Med Klin (Munich). 1994 Feb 15;89(2):73-80, 107.