Submitted on June 21, 2002
Accepted on April 2, 2003
Acid infusion enhances duodenal mechanosensitivity in healthy subjects
Magnus Simren1, Rita Vos1, Jozef Janssens1, and Jan Tack1*
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jan.tack{at}med.kuleuven.ac.be.
Duodenal acid has been suggested to be of importance for dyspeptic symptoms. We investigated the effects of acid on duodenal mechanosensitivity and antroduodenal motility in 10 healthy subjects before and during duodenal infusion of acid (0.1N HCl) or water, using a combined barostat-manometry assembly. During acid infusion increased sensitivity to balloon distension was seen with reduced perception (p=0.04) and discomfort thresholds (p=0.06) and higher intensity of discomfort (p=0.02) compared with water. Higher balloon volumes were seen during acid infusion, indicating decreased tone (p=0.05). Large volume waves were more prevalent during acid than water infusion (p=0.009). The acid infusion suppressed antral contractions (p=0.04) and increased the number of contractions in the proximal duodenum (p=0.02) compared with before the infusion. In conclusion, duodenal acid enhances mechanical sensitivity in the duodenum and affects gastroduodenal motor function and might be of importance for dyspeptic symptoms.
