간경변 환자에서 Oro-cecal Transit Time의 즉정

Background: Neurotransmitter like substances in the gut have been proposed to contribute to the overall portal systemic encephalopathy (PSE). The source of the ammonia in patients with PSE is mainly the small bowel, as a result of the conversion of glutamine in the diet to glutamate and ammonia. PSE is highly responsive to changes in diet, to antibiotic therapy and to ingestion of nondigestible disaccharides such as lactulose. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between PSE and oro-cecal transit time. In addition, performed to evaluate the effect of severity, cause, complications of liver cirrhosis on oro-cecal transit time. Methods: Between August 2006 and February 2007，48 cirrhotic patients consecutively was enrolled in study their oro-cecal transit time after informed consent was obtained. A non-invasive hydrogen breath test was used to study oro-cecal transit time (OCTT). Result: The OCTT were delayed in cirrhotic patients with PSE compared without PSE (123.3 土 42.7 min vs 170.0 土 58.3 min, p<0.05). OCTT tended to prolongate further as the damage in the liver got worse, nevertheless the result was statistically meaningless (p<0.111). Neither presence of ascites or cause of PSE had any influence on gastrointestinal transit. Conclusions: Cirrhotic patients with PSE have more delayed OCTT than without PSE. Further research is needed to find out the relationship between OCTT and severity of liver cirrhosis.