Gastrointestinal symptoms in myotonic dystrophy.

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal complaints may be the initial symptom in myotonic dystrophy (MD). However, the frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms has never been prospectively evaluated.

METHODS

Forty patients with MD were interviewed with regard to their GI symptoms with a standardized questionnaire. A group of healthy subjects matched for age and sex served as controls.

RESULTS

The most prevalent symptoms were abdominal pain (55%), dysphagia (45%), emesis (35%), chronic or episodic diarrhoea (33%), coughing while eating (33%), and anal incontinence (30%). Twenty-five per cent of the patients considered their GI problems to be the most disabling consequence of the disease, and 28% had GI problems that started before the diagnosis of MD.

CONCLUSIONS

GI symptoms are common in patients with MD, may be the initial symptoms, and are often considered to be the most disabling consequence of the disease.