Gastric Dysrhythmia in Uremic Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis

Abstract

Background: Dyspeptic symptoms are common in uremic patients receiving hemodialysis. Investigators have placed emphasis on the changes in histopathology and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract. But not much data about the gastric myoelectric activity are available. The aim of this study was to assess gastric myoelectric activity in uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: Fifty-eight subjects were enrolled. They were assigned to: group I, uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis with dyspeptic complaints (n = 20); group II, non-uremic patients with matched dyspeptic complaints (n = 20); and group III, healthy volunteers without dyspeptic complaints (n = 18). Gastric myoelectric activity was measured with abdominal surface electrodes in each person. Patients in group I were measured twice, before (group Ia) and after (group Ib) hemodialysis. The data were compared between the groups. Results: