Introduction: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a complex symptom. Currently there are multiple therapeutic options that are used for the management of these patients; however, FD therapies are based on symptomatic control and do not address the pathophysiological pathways involved in its development. The duodenum has been proposed as a key site to understand the complex pathophysiology involved in FD.
Objective: The aim of the study is to determine duodenal eosinophilia in patients with FD and establish the clinical-pathological correlation with the cardinal symptoms of dyspepsia.
Material and methods: Case-control study. Patients older than 18 years with dyspepsia according to the Rome IV criteria, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy normal (FD group).Patients with iron deficiency anemia and chronic diarrhea (control group). Biopsies were taken in the stomach, duodenal bulb and second portion of duodenum. A sample size of 140 patients (70 patients in the FD group and 70 patients in the control group) was calculated. The collected information was described and analyzed by conventional statistical techniques.
Results: 243 patients were recruited. 84 patients were included in the FD group and 84 patients in the control group. 135 patients were women (80.3%). The mean age was 53.6 years (SD 14.9). Duodenal eosinophilia was found with significant difference in patients with early satiety (p=0.01). There was no difference in patients with postprandial fullness (p=0.63), epigastric pain or burning (p=0.26), gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (p=0.13), allergy and food intolerance (p=0.42) and smoking (p=0.28). There was no relationship between duodenal mastocytosis and early satiety (p=0.98), postprandial fullness (p=0.78), and epigastric pain or burning (p=0.82).
Conclusions: Duodenal eosinophilia was similar in FD and controls. In subgroup analysis, duodenal eosinophilia occurs in patients with early satiety.