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The small intestinal basic electrical rhythm (slow wave) frequency gradient in normal men and in patients with a variety of diseases

1966; Elsevier BV; Volume: 50; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0016-5085(66)80069-0

1528-0012

James Christensen, Harold P. Schedl, James Clifton,

Gastrointestinal motility and disorders

Summary We used an intraluminal salt-bridge electrode to record the small intestinal slow wave or basic electrical rhythm (BER) at many levels of the intestine. We found a descending BER frequency gradient in 12 normal subjects and in 13 patients with a variety of diseases. The descending gradient was stepwise in some normal subjects but linear in others. The data from normal subjects have bfeen pooled to establish a range of normal values. The mean frequency at the ligament of Treitz was 11.80 cycles per min (sd 0.32); at 225 to 239 cm below the incisor teeth it was 9.39 cycles per min (sd 0.18). Abnormal gradients were found in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, and in a patient with hyperparathyroidism, gastric hypersecretion, and diarrhea. The form and magnitude of this gradient may be important determinants of small intestinal motor function.