Medical Update - Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
My son, 48, has been diagnosed with gastroparesis, the failure of the stomach to empty food into the small intestine. He is not a diabetic. He has been taking Reglan, but the side effects are undesirable. Are there other medicines, and is there hope for a cure?
Marcie Scholl
Bonita Springs, Florida
Doctors prescribe Reglan to help stimulate the muscular lining the stomach. We asked Dr. Gregory Blitz, an Indianapolis gastroenterologist, to respond to your questions:
“Diabetes is the most common cause of gastroparesis. Your son appears to fall into the category of idiopathic,’ meaning there is no known cause.
“Unfortunately, there is no better drug than Reglan currently available. Another option for treatment is called gastric pacing. Similar to placement of a cardiac pacemaker, gastric pacing is available in medical centers specializing in gastrointestinal motility disorders.
“On occasion, I have seen patients with idiopathic gastroparesis improve spontaneously over time. Hopefully, your son might fall into this category.”
Dear Editor,
Is there a definitive test for Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome? My granddaughter, age 22, has been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I have had chronic IBS for more than 35 years. Are the conditions hereditary?
Also, can you tell me how I can purchase your book on digestive diseases?
via e-mail
If you will give us your address, we will mail you The Saturday Evening Post Investigates Digestive Diseases with an invoice for $49.95. The book contains interviews with leading experts on Crohn’s disease. If you are a subscriber and thus a member of the Society, you may deduct 15 percent. You may return the book for a refund if not completely satisfied.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition in which unusually sensitive nerve endings in the gut cause it to be overly reactive. Researchers say that IBS sometimes runs in families. Crohn’s disease–an inflammatory bowel disorder–has a strong genetic component. As yet, we know of no definitive test for either condition.
Several medical centers specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of Crohn’s disease. One is the University of Chicago, where Dr. Stephen Hanauer and pathologist Dr. John Hart work. If you live on the East Coast, we can recommend Dr. Daniel Present at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
