Gastric emptying after autologous haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation: a prospective trial

Gastroparesis may be involved in the pathophysiology of prolonged nausea and vomiting after haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), but this has not been prospectively investigated. Gastric emptying (GE) was investigated in 20 patients before and 2 months after autologous HSCT. Gastrointestinal symptoms were graded prospectively and oral energy intake was recorded in parallel. Before transplant, all patients were asymptomatic and GE was within the reference range. Post transplant GE was delayed in three patients and three patients reported nausea and/or vomiting. Neither gastrointestinal symptoms nor oral energy intake post transplant discriminated between patients with or without delayed GE. Oral energy intake before transplant was lower (P = 0.05), and there was a greater need for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) among patients who developed gastroparesis post transplant (P < 0.05). Delayed GE after HSCT was found to be less common than had been believed from retrospective studies. Gastroparesis may be involved in some cases of prolonged nausea and vomiting after autologous HSCT but alternative explanations should be considered. Symptoms consistent with gastroparesis did not correlate with GE. Patients at risk of developing gastroparesis may be found among those with nutritional difficulties before and during the transplant course.