Clinical trial: interferential electric stimulation in functional dyspepsia patients - a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND

There are several studies reporting the beneficial effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation in patients with gastroparesis and chronic constipation.

AIM: To analyse whether transcutaneous electrical stimulation is an effective procedure in functional dyspepsia patients.

METHODS

Functional dyspepsia patients were randomly placed in vacuum interferential current (IFC) and placebo groups. Both treatments consisted of 12 sessions administered over 4 weeks. Upper gastrointestinal system symptoms were documented at the beginning, during and after the treatment sessions.

RESULTS

Patients in therapy (23 cases) and placebo (21 cases) groups were homogeneous with respect to demographic data and upper gastrointestinal system symptoms. In the therapy group, all symptoms other than early satiation improved significantly during and after the treatment sessions, whereas in the placebo group, symptoms including heartburn and vomiting did not change significantly. IFC therapy was superior to placebo with respect to epigastric discomfort, pyrosis, bloating, early satiation and postprandial fullness during the treatment sessions. One month after the treatment sessions, vacuum IFC proved to be superior to placebo with regard to early satiation and heartburn.

CONCLUSIONS

Vacuum IFC is a non-invasive and effective therapy for functional dyspepsia. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation may represent a new treatment modality for drug-refractory functional dyspepsia patients.