The preproghrelin 3056 TT genotype is associated with the feeling of hunger and low acylated ghrelin levels in Japanese patients with Helicobacter pylori-negative functional dyspepsia.

Objective: An impairment of gastric motility is strongly associated with the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia (FD). Plasma ghrelin is one of the key molecules linked to gastric motility. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether ghrelin (GHRL) gene polymorphisms are associated with clinical symptoms, the plasma ghrelin levels and gastric emptying in patients with FD as defined by the Rome III classification.

Pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia.

Functional dyspepsia is a highly prevalent and heterogeneous disorder. Functional dyspepsia involves many pathogenic factors, such as gastric motility disorders, visceral hypersensitivity, psychological factors, Helicobacter pylori infection, and excessive gastric acid secretion. The present article provides an overview of pathogenetic factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms.