Functional dyspepsia: the past, the present and the Rome III classification

Abstract

The author summarizes the historical development of our knowledge about functional dyspepsia and overviews the so-called "road to Rome" process. Between 1988 and 2006, expert committees developed using the Delphi method subsequent classifications of functional gastrointestinal disorders (Rome I-III). The Rome III classification reassessed the diagnostic criteria for functional dyspepsia and distinguished new subgroups as the postprandial distress and epigastric pain syndrome. The rationale for the proposed new classification was based on the inadequacy of prior approaches such as the predominant symptom, the results of factor analyses in tertiary care and in the general population, clinical experience and new observations in the peer-reviewed literature. Epidemiologic data suggest that dyspeptic symptoms date back to the 1730s and their prevalence increased markedly subsequently, remaining the commonest diagnosis even in the endoscopic era. The current worldwide prevalence of functional dyspepsia is 7-45%, with large geographic variations. The role of Helicobacter pylori and Salmonella infection as etiologic factors is discussed. Amongst the pathophysiological features, the recent data on the role of phenotypic changes of acid secretion, alterations of fundic accommodation and antro-duodenal motility and gastric emptying, gastric hypersensitivity and hormonal disturbances are presented, but all these abnormalities are present only in a small part of the patients. The possible role of the polymorphism of alpha-adrenoceptor gene was also raised. The treatment of functional dyspepsia led to equivocal results and the high rate of placebo response makes difficult any interpretation. According to the recent meta-analyses, proton pump inhibitors and H 2 -histamine receptor blockers are superior to placebo. In spite of good results, cisapride was withdrawn in 2004. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori can induce sustained remission in a small but significant minority of patients. However, it might prevent further development of peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma and from public health view, eradication of the infection must be performed by using a test-and-treat or test-and-scope strategy and the benefits and risks of this approach must be discussed with the patient. Each of the above treatments achieves transient symptomatic improvement only and follow-up of dyspeptic patients for 5-7 years showed the benign, but recurrent nature of the disease in 50% of the cases. The aim of the Rome III classification is the identification of pathophysiological changes associated with the new subgroups of functional dyspepsia which will permit their targeted pharmacologic treatment leading to better and cost-efficient results.