Primary anorexia nervosa: Gastric emptying and antral motor activity in 53 patients

In 53 consecutive patients with primary anorexia nervosa, gastric emptying of a semisolid meal was significantly slower than in 24 healthy subjects. Slow emptying tended to be associated with low serum potassium, low body weight, and long illness duration. Antral contraction amplitudes were lower than in healthy subjects and failed to increase postcibally, whereas contraction frequency and rhythmicity seemed unaffected. After the gastric prokinetic agent, cisapride, 8 mg intravenously administered double-blind, emptying was significantly faster than after placebo. The recognition of impaired gastric motility may be important in the management of anorexia nervosa.