Dyspepsia

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Dyspepsia (from the Greek "δυς-" (Dys-), meaning hard or difficult, and "πέψη" (Pepse), meaning digestion) is chronic or recurrent pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen [1] Discomfort, in this context, includes mild pain, upper abdominal fullness and feeling full earlier than expected with eating. It can be accompanied by bloating, belching, nausea or heartburn. It may be called indigestion. Heartburn is excluded from the definition of dyspesia in ICD 10, as it usually has a different cause and management pathway. When a patient has dyspepsia, but underlying disease is found, the patient is said to have non-ulcer dyspepsia or functional dyspepsia or idopathic dyspepsia.

Classification

Dyspepsia has been proposed to have symptomatic subgroups:[2]

  • ulcerlike
  • dysmotilitylike
  • refluxlike
  • nonspecific

However, there is not a strong correlation of symptom type and measures of abnormal motility or hypersensitivity.[2][3]


Cause/etiology

Several studies provide prevalences of underlying causes based on findings at esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).[2][4][5]

Findings in various populations
Patients referred to gastroenterologists for dyspesia[2] Primary care patients with dyspepsia[4] Volunteers without dyspepsia[5]
Normal
Macroscopically normal
by EGD		 60% 54% 66%
Histologically normal
by biopsy at EGD		 35%
Esophagus
Macroscopic esophagitis
by EGD		 14% 12% 22%
Hiatal hernia >2 cm by UGI 40% 26%
Hiatal hernia by EGD 3% 3%
Stomach/duodenum
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) 20% 8% 4%
Gastritis/duodenitis 14% 20% 9-16%
Other
Malignancy 3% 0% 0%

Non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD)

When organic disease is excluded by esophagogastroduodenoscopy and other tests, the patient is considered to have non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). This is also called functional dyspepsia.

Possible causes of NUD

The implied lack of organic disease may actually be incorrect as there may be physiological abnormalities that are too subtle for commonly used tests. For example, some patients may have gastric motor function or visceral sensitivity.[3]

H. pylori

H. pylori

Association with other diseases

Psychiatric diagnoses
Irritable bowel

Irritable bowel syndrome

Diagnosis

History and physical examination

The history and physical examination cannot reliably detect when organic disease underlies dypspepsia.[6]

Alarm features or red flags that may indicate serious underlying diseases are:[7]

  • Age older than 55 years with new-onset dyspepsia
  • Family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Progressive dysphagia
  • Odynophagia
  • Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
  • Persistent vomiting
  • Palpable mass or lymphadenopathy
  • Jaundice

Although the value of these findings is hard to establish[8], one study found that the best predictions of abnormal investigations were:[9]

  • History of an previous ulcer
  • Age 50 or more
  • Pain better with food or milk (presumably identifies duodenal pathology)
  • Pain occurs < one hour after eating (presumably identifies gastric pathology)

On physical examination, pallor of conjunctiva, nail-bed or palmar crease, or the absence of nail-bed blanching are predictive of significant anemia (hemoglobin less than 12 gm/dl).[10]

Laboratory tests

Complete blood count

One study found that by using "H. pylori serology and a hemoglobin reading in the evaluation of dyspeptic patients under 45 years of age, the need for endoscopy can be reduced by 55%."[11]

In adults, 60% of patients with iron deficiency anemia may have underlying gastrointestinal disorders leading to chronic blood loss.[12]

H. pylori testing

Clinical practice guidelines by the American Gastroenterological Association state "H. pylori testing is optimally performed by a 13C-urea breath test or stool antigen test."[13]

Several studies indicate the need to test dyspeptic patients for H. pylori.[11][14][15] One study found that by using "H. pylori serology and a hemoglobin reading in the evaluation of dyspeptic patients under 45 years of age, the need for endoscopy can be reduced by 55%."[11]

The accuracy of the breath test for detecting peptic ulcer disease is:[16]

Radiology

UGI as historic significance as good before EGD.[17]

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Direct visualization by esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD) is very sensitive, but may not detect all possible underlying causes of dyspepsia. For example, gastroesophageal reflux disease that does not cause macroscopic esophagitis will be missed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy.[18]

Treatment

Clinical practice guidelines by the American Gastroenterological Association recommend:[13]

  • "Patients 55 years of age or younger without alarm features should receive Helicobacter pylori test and treat followed by acid suppression if symptoms remain"

Smaller meals

Acid suppression

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded "there is evidence that anti-secretory therapy may be effective in NUD" with a number needed to treat for PPIs of 10.[19] However, a subsequent randomized controlled trial showed no benefit.[20]

Prokinetic drugs

Prokinetic drugs include:[21]

The Cochrane Collaboration concluded "trials evaluating prokinetic therapy are difficult to interpret as the...[positive] result could have been due to publication bias.".[19] More recently, a randomized controlled trial of itopride found that 100 mg three times per day benefited 17% of patients (number needed to treat is 6).[22]

Tricylic antidepressants

A meta-analysis found that patients needed to be treated to improve 1 patient (number needed to treat is 3).[23]

Eradication of H. pylori

The Cochrane Collaboration concluded "small but statistically significant effect in ''H. pylori'' positive non-ulcer dyspepsia. The number needed to treat was 14. An economic model suggests this modest benefit may still be cost-effective but more research is needed."[24]

Prevention

Users of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications

Asymptomatic adults

Community screening for H. pylori may be beneficial.[25]

References

  1. ↑ N. Talley, et al., "Guidelines for the management of dyspepsia", American Journal of Gastroenterology 100 (2005), pp. 2324-2337.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Talley NJ, Weaver AL, Tesmer DL, Zinsmeister AR (1993). "Lack of discriminant value of dyspepsia subgroups in patients referred for upper endoscopy". Gastroenterology 105 (5): 1378–86. PMID 8224642. [e]
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Karamanolis G, Caenepeel P, Arts J, Tack J (2006). "Association of the predominant symptom with clinical characteristics and pathophysiological mechanisms in functional dyspepsia". Gastroenterology 130 (2): 296–303. DOI:10.1053/j.gastro.2005.10.019. PMID 16472585. Research Blogging.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Williams B, Luckas M, Ellingham JH, Dain A, Wicks AC (1988). "Do young patients with dyspepsia need investigation?". Lancet 2 (8624): 1349–51. PMID 2904061. [e]
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Johnsen R, Bernersen B, Straume B, Førde OH, Bostad L, Burhol PG (1991). "Prevalences of endoscopic and histological findings in subjects with and without dyspepsia". BMJ 302 (6779): 749–52. PMID 2021764. [e] Fulltext
  6. ↑ Moayyedi P, Talley NJ, Fennerty MB, Vakil N (2006). "Can the clinical history distinguish between organic and functional dyspepsia?". JAMA 295 (13): 1566–76. DOI:10.1001/jama.295.13.1566. PMID 16595759. Research Blogging.
  7. ↑ Talley NJ, Vakil NB, Moayyedi P (2005). "American gastroenterological association technical review on the evaluation of dyspepsia". Gastroenterology 129 (5): 1756–80. DOI:10.1053/j.gastro.2005.09.020. PMID 16285971. Research Blogging.
  8. ↑ Hammer J, Eslick GD, Howell SC, Altiparmak E, Talley NJ (2004). "Diagnostic yield of alarm features in irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia". Gut 53 (5): 666–72. PMID 15082584. [e]
  9. ↑ Marton KI, Sox HC, Wasson J, Duisenberg CE (1980). "The clinical value of the upper gastrointestinal tract roentgenogram series". Arch. Intern. Med. 140 (2): 191–5. PMID 7352814. [e]
  10. ↑ Nardone DA, Roth KM, Mazur DJ, McAfee JH (1990). "Usefulness of physical examination in detecting the presence or absence of anemia". Arch. Intern. Med. 150 (1): 201–4. PMID 2297289. [e]
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Valle PC, Breckan RK, Amin A, et al (2006). ""Test, score and scope": a selection strategy for safe reduction of upper gastrointestinal endoscopies in young dyspeptic patients referred from primary care". Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 41 (2): 161–9. DOI:10.1080/00365520500286881. PMID 16484121. Research Blogging.
  12. ↑ Rockey D, Cello J (1993). "Evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in patients with iron-deficiency anemia". N Engl J Med 329 (23): 1691-5. PMID 8179652.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Talley NJ (2005). "American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: evaluation of dyspepsia". Gastroenterology 129 (5): 1753–5. DOI:10.1053/j.gastro.2005.09.019. PMID 16285970. Research Blogging. National Guideline Clearinghouse
  14. ↑ Jarbol DE, Kragstrup J, Stovring H, Havelund T, Schaffalitzky de Muckadell OB (2006). "Proton pump inhibitor or testing for Helicobacter pylori as the first step for patients presenting with dyspepsia? A cluster-randomized trial". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 101 (6): 1200–8. DOI:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2006.00673.x. PMID 16771937. Research Blogging.
  15. ↑ Shaw IS, Valori RM, Charlett A, McNulty CA (2006). "Limited impact on endoscopy demand from a primary care based 'test and treat' dyspepsia management strategy: the results of a randomised controlled trial". The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 56 (526): 369–74. PMID 16638253. [e]
  16. ↑ McColl KE, el-Nujumi A, Murray L, et al (1997). "The Helicobacter pylori breath test: a surrogate marker for peptic ulcer disease in dyspeptic patients". Gut 40 (3): 302–6. PMID 9135516. [e]
  17. ↑ (1985) "Endoscopy in the evaluation of dyspepsia. Health and Public Policy Committee, American College of Physicians". Ann. Intern. Med. 102 (2): 266–9. PMID 3917639. [e]
  18. ↑ Tefera L, Fein M, Ritter MP, et al (1997). "Can the combination of symptoms and endoscopy confirm the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease?". The American surgeon 63 (10): 933–6. PMID 9322676. [e]
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Moayyedi P, Soo S, Deeks J, Delaney B, Innes M, Forman D (2006). "Pharmacological interventions for non-ulcer dyspepsia". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (4): CD001960. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD001960.pub3. PMID 17054151. Research Blogging.
  20. ↑ Leung WK, Wu JC, Chan FK, et al (2007). "Initial treatment with lansoprazole in young dyspeptic patients with negative urea breath test result: a randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 102 (7): 1483–8. DOI:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01229.x. PMID 17593161. Research Blogging.
  21. ↑ Hiyama T, Yoshihara M, Matsuo K, et al (2007). "Treatment of functional dyspepsia with serotonin agonists: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 22 (10): 1566–70. DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2006.04723.x. PMID 17845684. Research Blogging.
  22. ↑ Holtmann G, Talley NJ, Liebregts T, Adam B, Parow C (2006). "A placebo-controlled trial of itopride in functional dyspepsia". N. Engl. J. Med. 354 (8): 832–40. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa052639. PMID 16495395. Research Blogging.
  23. ↑ Jackson JL, O'Malley PG, Tomkins G, Balden E, Santoro J, Kroenke K (2000). "Treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders with antidepressant medications: a meta-analysis". Am. J. Med. 108 (1): 65–72. PMID 11059442. [e]
  24. ↑ Moayyedi P, Soo S, Deeks J, et al (2006). "Eradication of Helicobacter pylori for non-ulcer dyspepsia". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (2): CD002096. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD002096.pub4. PMID 16625554. Research Blogging.
  25. ↑ Ford AC, Forman D, Bailey AG, Axon AT, Moayyedi P (2005). "A community screening program for Helicobacter pylori saves money: 10-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial". Gastroenterology 129 (6): 1910–7. DOI:10.1053/j.gastro.2005.09.016. PMID 16344059. Research Blogging.
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