Gastroparesis is a clinical disorder characterized by upper gastrointestinal symptoms related with delayed gastric emptying of solids and liquids in the absence of mechanical obstruction.
Diabetes mellitus has been the most common cause of
gastroparesis and idiopathic
gastroparesis also accounts for a third of all chronic cases. The most important mechanisms of
gastroparesis, as understood to date, are loss of expression of
neuronal nitric oxide synthase and loss of the interstitial cells of Cajal. However, the pathogenesis of
gastroparesis is poorly understood. There have been several studies on specific molecules related to the pathogenesis of
gastroparesis. Additionally, the
Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium of the National Institutes of Health has achieved several promising results regarding the pathophysiology of
gastroparesis. As the progress in the pathophysiology of
gastroparesis has been made, a promising new
drug therapy has been found. The pathophysiology and
drug therapy of
gastroparesis are focused in this review. Until now, the real-world medication options for treatment of
gastroparesis are limited. However, it is expected to be substantially improved as the pathophysiology of
gastroparesis is elucidated.