Study of Endogenous Inhibitory Modulation During Gastric and Somatic Stimulation

Inclusion Criteria:

FD patients:

• Eighty male and female FD patients according to Rome III criteria (Drossman, 2006), aged 18 to 70 years, will be recruited from primary and secondary care via advertisements and our referral networks.
• FD discomfort or pain should be the most prominent symptom.
• Patients must have been off all FD and analgesic medication and any drugs potentially influencing sensory function for at least two weeks before study start and be able to remain off such medication for the duration of the study period.

Healthy controls:

• Forty male and female healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 70 years without any gastrointestinal pathology or history of significant abdominal pain, bowel disorders, bloating or discomfort during the last 3 months will be recruited.

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria for both FD patients and healthy controls:

• Organic gastrointestinal or other significant systemic disease, including cardiovascular, dermatological, psychiatric, neurological and endocrine diseases. Patients with peptic ulcer scars are also excluded.
• Chronic or acute pain, except related to other functional syndromes (irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, fibromyalgia, migraine).
• H. pylori positive.
• Abdominal surgery, including gastric resection or cholecystectomy (except appendectomy)
• History of brain disease or brain surgery.
• Ongoing treatment with any drugs or need for drugs (or complementary medication) within last 14 days.
• Treatment with any investigational drug during the preceding 30 days.
• Ingestion of spicy, chilli pepper containing meal, or use of capsaicin skin cream in last 48 hours before start of study or any study day.
• Pregnancy or lactation.
• No written informed consent obtained from subject.