Gastrointestinal transit and contractility in diabetic constipation: A wireless motility capsule study on diabetes patients and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic constipation is traditionally attributed to slow colonic transit, despite limited evidence. More than half of patients find treatment unsatisfactory. To improve treatment, there is a need for better diagnostic understanding of the condition. OBJECTIVE: In this wireless motility capsule study, we aimed to investigate gastrointestinal transit and contractility in diabetes patients with and without constipation, and in healthy controls. METHODS: We prospectively included type 1 or type 2 diabetes patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. Based on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale we distinguished into two groups: with constipation and without constipation. Non-diabetic controls were asymptomatic. All were examined with wireless motility capsule, determining transit times and contractility parameters. RESULTS: 57 patients (42 women, 46 with type 1 diabetes) and 26 healthy controls (14 women) were included. We found no difference in transit times between diabetes patients with and without constipation. Compared to healthy controls (35:55, h:min), whole-gut transit was slower in both diabetes patients with constipation (66:15, p = 0.03) and without constipation (71:16, p < 0.001). Small bowel motility index correlated rs  = -0.32 (p = 0.01) with constipation symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes patients with constipation had similar transit times as those without constipation. Both groups had slower whole-gut transit than healthy controls. Constipation was associated with reduced small bowel, but not colonic contractility. Our results imply that other mechanisms than slow colonic transit may be more important in the pathogenesis of diabetic constipation.

Gastroparesis Symptoms Associated with Intestinal Hypomotility: An Explorative Study Using Wireless Motility Capsule.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric emptying measurements are mandatory in gastroparesis diagnostics, but the association between delayed emptying and symptoms is questionable. It is imperative to find biomarkers better correlated to symptom generation. Hence, we examined the association between symptom severity and gastrointestinal motility measured by wireless motility capsule. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective single-centre study, patients with gastroparesis symptoms were simultaneously investigated with gastric emptying scintigraphy and wireless motility capsule, measuring regional transit times and contractility parameters. Symptom severity was assessed with the Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (PAGI-SYM), including the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI). RESULTS: We included 107 patients (70% women). In the whole patient group, nausea correlated with the gastric (rs = -0.31, p = 0.007), small bowel (rs = -0.41, p < 0.001) and colonic (rs = -0.33, p = 0.012) motility indices. In patients with idiopathic etiology, nausea correlated with small bowel motility index (rs = -0.81, p < 0.001) and mean stomach pressure (rs = -0.64, p = 0.013). We also found negative correlations between total GCSI score and maximum pressure of the small bowel (rs = -0.77, p < 0.001) and colon (rs = -0.74, p = 0.002). In diabetes patients, total PAGI-SYM score correlated with colonic motility index (rs = -0.34, p = 0.012), and mean pressure of the colon correlated with upper abdominal pain (rs = -0.37, p = 0.007). We found no association between symptoms, gastric emptying nor any other transit times. CONCLUSION: In patients with gastroparesis symptoms, we found that symptom severity was associated with intestinal hypomotility. Based on these results, gastroparesis diagnostics should also include an evaluation of the small bowel and colon.

Wireless motility capsule compared with scintigraphy in the assessment of diabetic gastroparesis.

BACKGROUND: Gastroparesis is a potentially severe late complication of diabetes mellitus. Today, delayed gastric emptying (GE) is mandatory for establishing the diagnosis. In this study, we compared wireless motility capsule (WMC) with gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES). METHODS: Seventy-two patients (49 women) with diabetes mellitus (59 type 1) and symptoms compatible with gastroparesis were prospectively included between 2014 and 2018. Patients were simultaneously examined with GES and WMC. Symptoms were assessed with the Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (PAGI-SYM) questionnaire. All patients were on intravenous glucose-insulin infusion during testing. KEY RESULTS: WMC and GES correlated r = .74, P < .001. Compared to GES, WMC at ordinary cutoff for delayed GE (300 minutes) had a sensitivity of 0.92, specificity 0.73, accuracy 0.80, and Cohen's kappa κ = 0.61 (P < .001). By receiver operating characteristics (ROC), the area under the curve was 0.95 (P < .001). A cutoff value for delayed GE of 385 minutes produced sensitivity 0.92, specificity 0.83, accuracy 0.86, and Cohen's kappa κ = 0.72 (P < .001). Inter-rater reliability for GE time with WMC was r = .996, κ = 0.97, both P < .001. There was no difference in symptom severity between patients with normal and delayed GE. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Our findings demonstrate the applicability of WMC as a reliable test to assess gastric emptying in diabetic gastroparesis showing very high inter-observer correlation. By elevating the cutoff value for delayed emptying from 300 to 385 minutes, we found higher specificity without reducing sensitivity.

Pathophysiology of idiopathic gastroparesis and implications for therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Idiopathic gastroparesis is a gastric motility disorder characterized by chronic upper gastrointestinal symptoms and delayed gastric emptying without an identifiable underlying condition. This review summarizes recent understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of idiopathic gastroparesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Structured literature search in the PubMed, Embase and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. RESULTS: Idiopathic gastroparesis involves several alterations in gastric motility and sensation, including delayed gastric emptying, altered myoelectrical activity, impaired fundic accommodation, visceral hypersensitivity and disturbances in antropyloroduodenal motility and coordination. Multiple cellular changes have been identified, including depletion of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and enteric nerves, as well as stromal fibrosis. The underlying cause of these changes is not fully understood but may be an immune imbalance, including loss of anti-inflammatory heme-oxygenase-1 positive (HO-1) macrophages. There is currently no causal therapy for idiopathic gastroparesis. The treatment ladder consists of dietary measures, prokinetic and antiemetic medications, and varying surgical or endoscopic interventions, including promising pyloric therapies. There are ongoing trials with several novel medications, raising hopes for future treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with idiopathic gastroparesis present several pathophysiological alterations in the stomach, where depletion of ICC is of special importance. Treatment is currently focused on alleviating symptoms through dietary adjustments, medication or surgical or endoscopic interventions.