Table 1.

Rome III criteria for functional dyspepsia (modified from reference 5)

For the two categories noted below, criteria must be fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months prior to diagnosis. Patients must have one or more of the following symptoms:

- Postprandial fullness

- Early satiety

- Epigastric burning

In addition, patients cannot have any evidence of structural disease that is likely to explain symptoms (i.e. upper endoscopy is normal).

A. Postprandial distress syndrome

Diagnostic criteria must include both the following:

- Bothersome postprandial fullness, occurring after ordinary sized meals, at least several times per week

- Early satiation that prevents finishing a regular meal, at least several times per week

- Other supporting criteria:

- Upper abdominal bloating or postprandial nausea or excessive belching can be present

- Epigastric pain syndrome may coexist

B. Epigastric Pain Syndrome

Diagnostic criteria must include all of the following:

- Pain or burning localised to the epigastrium, of at least moderate severity at least once per week

- The pain is intermittent

- Not generalised or localised to other abdominal or chest regions

- Not relieved by defecation or passage of flatus

- Not fulfilling criteria for biliary pain

Supportive criteria:

- The pain may be of a burning quality, but without a retrosternal component

- The pain is commonly induced or relieved by ingestion of a meal, but may occur while fasting

- Postprandial distress syndrome may coexist