Background: This study aimed to quantitatively examine gastric mucosal nerve density (GMND) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and analyzed its clinical correlation.
Methods: We prospectively enrolled 35 patients with FD and 16 age-and gender-matched healthy controls for comparison of GMND on endoscopic biopsy, scores of Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI), and gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES).
Results: Patients with FD had lower GMND than the control subjects in gastric antrum, body, and fundus. GMND was inversely correlated with the GCSI scores, but not correlated with GES parameters.
Conclusion: GMND was reduced in FD and inversely correlated with the symptom severity.
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