[The effect of alpha-glucosidase inhibitor on burning epigastralgia in dumping syndrome: a case report].

Dumping syndrome results from a rapid passage of carbohydrate in the small intestine after gastric surgery. A 50-year-old man developed the syndrome after surgery for peptic ulcer. He often complained of burning epigastralgia after meals. Various methods of treatment had only a limited effect. Acarbose, alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, suppresses the breakdown of carbohydrates in the small intestine and consequently reduced osmolarity. The patient had a dramatic improvement in the dumping syndrome including epigastralgia, diarrhea and perspiration with an administration of acarbose 50 mg. There was no intractable side effect. Preprandial administration of acarbose is a reasonable treatment in the case of dumping syndrome.