Gastroparesis may be the cause of unexplained dyspepsia in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome

• Published in: La revue de medecine interne Vol. 39; no. 6; pp. 427 - 430
• Main Authors: Geyl, S, Jacques, J, Parreau, S, Cypierre, A, Tabouret, T, Gondran, G, Ly, K H, Liozon, E, Lapébie, F X, Bezanahary, H, Palat, S, Monteil, J, Loustaud-Ratti, V, Fauchais, A L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01-06-2018
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Delayed Diagnosis; Dyspepsia - diagnosis; Dyspepsia - epidemiology; Dyspepsia - etiology; Dyspepsia - therapy; Female; Gastroparesis - complications; Gastroparesis - diagnosis; Gastroparesis - epidemiology; Gastroparesis - therapy; Humans; Middle Aged; Radionuclide Imaging; Retrospective Studies; Sjogren's Syndrome - complications; Sjogren's Syndrome - epidemiology; Sjogren's Syndrome - therapy; Dyspepsie; Gougerot-Sjögren; Dyspepsia; Gastroparesis; Primary Sjögren syndrome; Gastroparésie
• ISSN: 1768-3122
• DOI: 10.1016/j.revmed.2018.02.007

Upper digestive symptoms may be present in up to 50% of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS). We report a retrospective cohort of gastroparesis in a population of pSS presenting unexplained dyspepsia. Delayed gastric emptying was defined by a gastric emptying time above 113min or by a retention percentage at 4h more than 10% on scintigraphy.
Eleven patients with primary Sjögren syndrome and gastroparesis were included in a retrospective study. Every patients were women of age 48±18y. The average time of gastric emptying was 725,18±704,45min. 64% of patients had abdominal pain or gastric heaviness. A central or peripheral neurologic involvement was described in respectively 9 and 27% of cases. The diagnostic delay of gastroparesis was higher than 24 months.
In primary Sjögren syndrome, gastroparesis should be suspected in case of unexplained dyspepsia, and a scintigraphy performed to prove the diagnosis. A neurologic involvement could explain gastroparesis, but prospective studies are needed for a better understanding of this disorder.