Stomach Phytobezoars in Two Uremic Anorexic Patients

Abstract

Conglomerates of food and mucus or phytobezoars composed of vegetable matter are sometimes found in the stomach in the general population. Reports of phytobezoars in uremic patients are, however, scarce. Here we describe 2 uremic patients in which esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed due to dyspepsia associated with weight loss and in which stomach phytobezoars were discovered. Theoretically, uremic patients should be at risk for producing bezoars. In fact, these patients frequently present predisposing conditions such as autonomic neuropathy, diabetes mellitus and delayed gastric emptying. Gastric bezoars cause anorexia. Anorexia is a frequent symptom in dialysis patients and is associated with malnutrition. In these patients, malnutrition is strongly associated with mortality and is quite difficult to reverse. Similarly, phytobezoars cause chronic anorexia. We suggest that clinicians working in dialysis units should consider the possibility of a gastric bezoar when evaluating anorexic uremic patients.