Gastroparesis (GP): Definition, Symptoms, and Causes
What is Gastroparesis (GP)?
Gastroparesis (GP) is a chronic disorder characterized by delayed gastric emptying without any physical obstruction. It means the stomach muscles are weakened or impaired, resulting in the stomach emptying food into the small intestine more slowly than normal. The prolonged stomach retention causes digestive symptoms and can significantly affect quality of life.
Symptoms of Gastroparesis
- Nausea and vomiting, often of undigested food, occurring hours after meal intake
- Feeling of early satiety (fullness soon after beginning to eat) or prolonged fullness after meals
- Bloating and abdominal distension
- Upper abdominal pain or discomfort
- Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux
- Loss of appetite and unintended weight loss
- Fluctuations in blood sugar levels, especially in diabetics
- Fatigue and malnutrition in severe cases due to poor nutrient absorption
Causes of Gastroparesis
- Diabetes Mellitus: The most common cause due to diabetic neuropathy damaging the vagus nerve that controls stomach muscles.
- Idiopathic: Unknown cause, representing a significant proportion of cases.
- Postsurgical: Injury or disruption of stomach nerves during surgeries like gastric bypass or vagotomy.
- Neurological Diseases: Conditions like Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis affecting nerve control.
- Medications: Drugs that slow gastric motility (opioids, anticholinergics).
- Autoimmune Diseases: Inflammatory processes affecting nerve or muscle function.
- Infections: Postviral gastroparesis after certain infections.
Pathophysiology
Delayed gastric emptying results from impaired coordination and strength of stomach muscle contractions and dysfunction of the pyloric sphincter, influenced by neural and muscular abnormalities as well as immune factors.
Summary
Gastroparesis is a disorder causing slow gastric emptying with symptoms of nausea, bloating, early fullness, and abdominal pain. Diabetes is a major cause, but various other conditions and factors contribute. Diagnosis requires careful evaluation, and management involves dietary modifications, medications, and addressing underlying causes.
Consult with Our Team of Experts Now!
For comprehensive assessment and treatment planning using Cellular Therapy and Stem Cells for gastroparesis, consult with our gastroenterology specialists focused on motility disorders.
References:
Reddivari AKR, Verma N, Radhakrishnan N. Gastroparesis: Overview and Pathophysiology. StatPearls. 2024 Feb 27. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551528/
