Magnetic resonance imaging of the gastrointestinal tract shows reduced small bowel motility and altered chyme in cystic fibrosis compared to controls

Neele S Dellschaft; Christabella Ng; Caroline Hoad; Luca Marciani; Robin Spiller; Iain Stewart; Alex Menys; Helen Barr; Penny A Gowland; Giles Major; Alan R Smyth

doi:10.1016/j.jcf.2021.12.007

Magnetic resonance imaging of the gastrointestinal tract shows reduced small bowel motility and altered chyme in cystic fibrosis compared to controls

J Cyst Fibros. 2022 May;21(3):502-505. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2021.12.007. Epub 2021 Dec 23.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, UK.
² NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Divisiof Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK.
³ NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, UK; NDigestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK.
⁴ NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; NDigestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK.
⁵ National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK.
⁶ Centre for Medical Imaging, Division of Medicine, University College London, UK.
⁷ NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Wolfson Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
⁸ NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Divisiof Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK. Electronic address: mgzars@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk.

PMID: 34922853
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2021.12.007

Abstract

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience digestive symptoms but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we explore causes and consequences of slower gastrointestinal transit using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twelve people with CF and 12 healthy controls, matched for age and gender, underwent MRI scans, both fasted and after standardised meals, over 6.5 h. Fasted small bowel motility scores were lower in CF than in controls. No difference in ascending colon chyme T₁ was detected. The difference in texture between small bowel and colon contents, seen in health, was diminished in CF. The ascending colon in CF participants had an abnormal appearance compared to controls. MRI offers unique potential to evaluate gut luminal content, colonic mucosa and intestinal motor activity. These new data support the theoretical cycle of desiccation, dysmotility and delayed transit as a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in CF.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Gastrointestinal tract; Magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cystic Fibrosis*
Gastrointestinal Motility
Gastrointestinal Tract
Gastrointestinal Transit
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging