What causes cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS)?

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What causes cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS)?

There is no known cause of CVS, but there is some suggestion that mitochondria in your cells may have a role. Mitochondria act as the engine of the cell, taking in nutrients and then breaking them down and forming energy that can be used by the cells. Mitochondrial DNA can become abnormal because of illness, a genetic condition inherited from your mother, or exposure to certain drugs or toxins. Often, tests suggest subtle changes in the mitochondrial function and exact diagnosis is not found. Cyclic vomiting may also occur more commonly in a patient who has a parent with migraines.

The following also could play a role in CVS:

  • Migraine headaches, which appear in up to 80% of children and 25% of adults with CVS.
  • Changes or imbalances in the autonomic nervous system.
  • Problems with brain, spinal cord, or nervous system control over the body’s gastrointestinal tract responses—the brain gut axis.
  • Hormone imbalances.

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