Gastric emptying time in patients with primary hypothyroidism [2]

Abstract

Symptoms due to slowing of gastrointestinal motility constitute an important problem in most patients with primary hypothyroidism. In this study, gastric emptying time was calculated by radioisotopic method in patients with primary hypothyroidism. Fifteen hypothyroid patients (2 male, 13 female) participated in the study. Mean age was 43 (range 38-50) years. Only patients who were recently diagnosed and not yet receiving replacement therapy were included in the study. Radiologic and endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract were made. Patients with gastric outlet obstruction were excluded. Twelve healthy and euthyroid persons with no detectable gastrointestinal pathology were examined as control group. The mean age of this group was 45 (range 35-55) years. Patients and control group received a semisolid meal containing 1 mCi Tc 99-sulphur colloid and measurements were made from epigastrium. Mean gastric emptying time (t 1/2) was 112.13 ± 48.96 minutes in hypothyroid patients and 57.87 ± 6.38 minutes in the control group. Gastric emptying time of the hypothyroid patients was significantly different from the control group (p<0.001). There was no correlation between gastric emptying time and serum TSH levels. We concluded that radioisotopic study is a safe, rapid and reliable method in determining gastric emptying time in patients with primary hypothyroidism.