Electrogastrography differentiates reflux disease with or without dyspeptic symptoms

Many patients with gastroesophgeal reflux disease (GERD) may also have overlapping symptoms of dyspepsia. This study was to examine if GERD patients could be separated into meaningful groups based on their gastric myoelectrical characteristics. The study included 20 GERD patients with dyspeptc symptoms (GERDC) and 17 patients with GERD. Gastric myoelectrical activity was assessed using cutaneous electrodes to record electrogastrograms (EGGs). The GERDC patients ingested smaller volumes of water compared to patients with GERD ( P < 0.05). At baseline, the percentage of gastric myoelectrical power in the normal 3-cpm range was significantly less in patients with GERDC compared with the GERD subjects ( P = 0.01). Power in the bradygastria range was significantly greater in patients with GERDC ( P = 0.005). The GERDC group had a significant increase in the percentage of power in the tachygastria range later after ingesting the water load (P < 0.01). In conclusion, this study has shown that more gastric dysrhythmias were detected in the GERDC patients accompanied with altered perception of stomach fullness.