Current approach to diagnosis and management of functional dyspepsia

Abstract

Dyspepsia is defined as pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen. It was first described in the mid 18th Century and since then it has been widely used in clinical practice. Functional dyspepsia is a highly prevalent condition characterized by symptoms originating from the gastro-duodenal region in the absence of an underlying organic disease. The major challenge with regard to dyspepsia management however, is the ability to reliably differentiate between organic dyspepsia and non-ulcer dyspepsia also known as functional dyspepsia (FD). Although the Rome III consensus criteria (2006) has made a clear distinction between epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) and postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), the applicability of these subdivisions of FD and its impact on clinical management remains a challenge to clinicians and presents unmet clinical practice needs as well as an area of active research. There is also a lack of clear understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition that is recognized based on symptoms profile making its diagnosis subjective and has also generated lots of controversies of management. Therefore, despite recent advances in FD and the growing interest in recent years on its study, a clear (consensus) agreement on its pathophysiologic mechanism and treatment are still not available. This article is therefore aimed at reviewing current trends in the diagnosis and management of this common gastro-duodenal disorder.

Keywords: Functional dyspepsia, current approach, diagnosis, management