Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) in Adults - Frequently Overlooked?

CVS (cyclic vomiting syndrome) is a functional disorder that can occur in all age groups. Adults typically develop CVS in middle age (around the 35th year of life). CVS is characterised by recurrent stereotypic episodes of nausea and vomiting lasting hours or some days. Between these episodes there are intervals free of symptoms. The main symptoms include nausea, vomiting and often abdominal pain. CVS is a rare disorder in adult patients. Because of the lack of awarness, making the correct diagnosis is not easy und often delayed for some months or years. There is no specific test to secure the diagnosis. The accurate diagnosis is based on the typical anamnestic report and the exclusion of other disorders associated with a recurrent vomiting. No standard evidence-based treatment is currently available either to manage the acute vomiting episode or to manage the prophylactic therapy. For the acute treatment of the vomiting episodes antiemetic, antimigraine and sedative medications were used. The medications frequently used for the prophylactic therapy are amitriptyline and propranolol.