Background and Aim: Although the best known method for the study of gastric emptying is scintigraphy, ultrasonography has been increasingly used for this purpose with good results.We used ultrasound as a possibility of assessment gastric motility in patients with migraine and various dyspeptic symptoms.
Methods: We studied 15 patients( 11 women,4 men), age between 21-48 years, with diagnosed migraine and associated functional dyspepsia, and 10 controls.
Gastric emptying was evaluated according to the method of Bolondi based on the measurement of antral area in a sagital section of the gastric wall through the aortic mesenteric vein plane. Ultrasound examination was made after 12 hours fasting. Measurements were done inter attack periods of migraine in basal state(empty stomach) and after finishing eating a mixed solid-liquid meal. Measurements were made from time 0 every 15 minutes until 90 minutes. We draw motility gastric curves in controls and patients. We also calculated maximal antral distension (percentage of antral area distension after finishing meal), half time of gastric emptyingT1/2. and compared to those of controls.
Results: 10 patients:66,66% (9 women,1 man),displayed patterns of delayed gastric emptying.3 male patients:20%, had a normal curve of gastric motility and 2 female patients:13,33%, with associated recurrent vomiting syndrome had features of rapid gastric emptying.
Conclusions: Our study showed that a high percentage of patients with migraine and associated functional dyspepsia had even between migraine attacks gastric motility disorders represented mainly by delaying gastric emptying and in a few cases rapid gastric emptying.