Gastric Hypersensitivity in Nonulcer Dyspepsia An Inconsistent Finding

Visceral hypersensitivity is claimed to beinvolved in the pathogenesis of nonulcer dyspepsia(NUD). We evaluated whether gastric hypersensitivity isa consistent finding in an unselected group of NUDpatients. In 11 patients and 20 healthy controls, astandardized gastric distension was performed using agastric barostat. Perception was scored by aquestionnaire and compared between the two groups. Therewas a linear pressure/volume relationship duringgastric distension in both groups. The pain threshold inNUD patients was significantly lower compared tocontrols [5.5 ± 4.0 mm Hg above minimaldistending pressure (mdp) and 10.2 ± 2.2 mm Hg above mdp,respectively, P < 0.004], irrespective of the H.pylori status. However, more than 50% of the NUDperception scores were in the control range at mostdistension levels. Gastric hypersensitivity could be confirmed inNUD patients as a group. However, there is aconsiderable overlap concerning perception in responseto distension between unselected NUD patients andcontrols.