Background: Cyclic-vomiting syndrome is an uncommon disorder in adults. The aim was to determine the frequency and define the clinical characteristics of the syndrome among Saudi patients.
Methods: The subjects were patients with recurrent vomiting who were evaluated and treated in a regional referral centre in Saudi Arabia.
Results: Of 4290 patients who had endoscopic examinations during a period of 7 years (1995-2001), 13 patients (11 females and 2 males, mean age = 18.4 years) were diagnosed as cyclic vomiting. Precipitating factors were rarely identified and none of the cases was associated with migraine. Responses to therapy, which comprised reassurance, tricyclic drugs and prokinetic drugs were variable.
Conclusions: The study indicated that the syndrome is relatively rare among Saudi patients with a frequency of 2.6 per 1000. The delay in the referral of these patients to a specialized unit was striking. It is probable that the syndrome is under-diagnosed and under-reported, in general. This report may stimulate more awareness of this disorder among health care givers in Saudi Arabia and may avoid unnecessary and protracted investigations.