Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the differences in gastric myoelectrical motility measured with electrogastrography (EGG) and its correlation with autonomic nervous system (ANS) abnormalities in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and healthy children (HC). Methods Sixty-two children were enrolled: 18 with IBD, 26 with IBS, and 18 HC. EEG was recorded during the preprandial and postprandial periods (standardized meal 300 kcal). ANS symptoms were assessed using the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS-31). The severity and distribution of ANS function were quantified through adrenergic, cardiovagal, and sudomotor indices of the Composite Autonomic Severity Scale (CASS). Symptomatic autonomic dysfunction was defined as COMPASS-31 7.913 and CASS 0. Results There was no statistically significant difference in any of the EGG parameters between groups (all p 0.05). The proportion of time that the signal was in the normogastric range was found to be 73.50 (24.2)% preprandially, increasing to 87.87 (28.29)% after the meal in children with IBS (p = 0.007). This observation was absent in children with IBD. The autonomic symptom burden measured with the COMPASS-31 score negatively correlated with postprandial power dominant frequency (PDF) (r=-0.324, p = 0.02). CASS and its indices did not correlate with any of the EGG parameters. Children with symptomatic dysautonomia exhibited lower values of postprandial PDF (2.79 (IQR 0.15) vs 2.94 (IQR 0.22), p = 0.021). Conclusion These findings highlight a postprandial reduction in gastric activity in children with clinically significant autonomic symptoms, suggesting a link between dysautonomia and impaired gastrointestinal motility Conflict of interest: Ms. Mocic Pavic, Ana: no conflict of interest Ruska, Paola: no conflict of interest Misak, Zrinjka: no conflict of interest Krbot Skoric, Magdalena: No conflict of interest Habek, Mario: No conflict of interest Hojsak, Iva: Personal Fees: BioGaia, Biocodex, Abbott, Sandoz, Takeda, Ewopharma, Hipp, GM Pharma
Pavic et al. (2026) studied this question.