Effect of fludrocortisone acetate on chronic unexplained nausea and abdominal pain in children with orthostatic intolerance.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We hypothesized that orthostatic intolerance (OI) is associated with gastric dysrhythmias, nausea, and abdominal pain, which improves using fludrocortisone to treat OI.

METHODS:

Patients (n=16, girls) with OI completed questionnaires before and after fludrocortisone treatment (age 14.8 ± 2.8 years). Ten patients underwent electrogastrograms (EGGs) before fludrocortisone.

RESULTS:

All EGGs showed gastric dysrhythmias. Fludrocortisone reduced mean scores as follows: nausea, 3.1 ± 0.8 to 2.1 ± 1.1 (P=0.016); dizziness, 3.0 ± 1.0 to 2.2 ± 1.1 (P=0.0371); abdominal pain, 2.8 ± 1.3 to 1.9 ± 1.4 (P=0.0063); flushing, 2.3 ± 1.2 to 1.5 ± 1.4 (P=0.0476); and missing school, 2.2 ± 1.5 to 1.2 ± 1.5 (P=0.0078).

CONCLUSIONS:

Chronic nausea and abdominal pain accompany OI and improve with OI treatment.

• Authors: John E Fortunato, Ashley L Wagoner, Rachel L Harbinson, Ralph B D'Agostino Jr, Hossam A Shaltout, Debra I Diz
• Journal: Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition (J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr) Vol. 59 Issue 1 Pg. 39-43 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1536-4801 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25222805 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Mineralocorticoids
• Fludrocortisone
• fludrocortisone acetate

Topics

• Abdominal Pain (complications, drug therapy)
• Adolescent
• Child
• Chronic Disease
• Female
• Fludrocortisone (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Mineralocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Nausea (complications, drug therapy)
• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (complications, drug therapy)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Stomach Diseases (diagnosis, etiology, physiopathology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Tilt-Table Test