Chronic gastritis is not associated with gastric dysrhythmia or delayed solid emptying in children with dyspepsia.

To determine if chronic gastritis (CG) is associated with gastric dysrhythmia or delayed solid emptying in children with dyspepsia, 22 patients (7-15 years of age) with dyspepsia and normal gross endoscopies were studied. Antral biopsies were evaluated for chronic gastritis, and immunohistology was performed to determine densities of CD3+, CD20+, CD25+, and tryptase-positive cells. Electrogastrography (EGG) and gastric scintiscan evaluation were performed within 2-7 days of endoscopy. CG and increased immune cell densities were not associated with altered gastric emptying. Mean CD3+ cell counts were positively correlated with the percentage normal slow waves, and patients with a normal EGG had increased CD3+ cell density. In children with dyspepsia, chronic antral inflammation in the setting of a normal gross endoscopy is not associated with EGG abnormalities or delayed solid emptying. Chronic gastritis and gastric dysrhythmia may simply be two separate and distinct mechanisms resulting in the clinical entity of dyspepsia.