Delayed gastric emptying of both the liquid and solid components of a meal in chronic liver disease

Objectives: To evaluate gastric emptying in patients with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension. Methods: We measured gastric emptying of both the liquid and solid components of a meal in 10 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension, but free of ascites, and 14 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. In the patients with liver disease, relationships between emptying and liver function were examined. To measure gastric emptying, subjects consumed a test meal that consisted of scrambled eggs labeled with ^99mTc-sulfur colloid and 4 oz of water labeled with ¹¹¹In-diethylene triamine pentacetic acid (DTPA). Results: Patients with liver disease and portal hypertension demonstrated delayed emptying of both the liquid (t 1/2 , min, mean ± SE, patients vs. Controls: 69.4 ± 19.4 vs. 31.4 ± 1.8, p < 0.01) and solid (postlag phase solid emptying: 141 ± 32.9 vs. 69.8 ± 4.6, p < 0.006) components of the meal. We could not identify any correlation between gastric emptying and tests of liver function. Conclusions: Gastric emptying is delayed in patients with liver disease and portal hypertension; this abnormal gastric motor function may contribute to the pathophysiology of foregut complaints in this patient population.