Effect of cisapride on gastric sensitivity to distension, gastric compliance and duodeno-gastric reflexes in healthy humans.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Visceral hypersensitivity and impaired gastric relaxation after the ingestion of a meal are frequent features in patients with functional dyspepsia. Cisapride improves dyspeptic symptoms. The study aims to evaluate whether cisapride influences gastric sensitivity to distension as well as gastric compliance and duodenogastric reflexes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eight healthy males were studied on two different days, each after 7 days' treatment either with placebo or cisapride 10 mg qid in randomized order. A spherical bag connected to a barostat was placed in the gastric fundus and an 8-lumen manometric catheter was positioned with 4 side holes in antrum and 4 in duodenum. During a phase II of the migrating motor complex, the intragastric bag was inflated at a constant pressure 1 mm Hg above the intra-abdominal pressure and the gastric volume was measured during intraduodenal infusion of lipids and citric acid at different rates. Once the stomach returned to the basal volume, the bag was distended according to two different protocols until subjects reported discomfort. Antroduodenal motility was measured throughout the study.

RESULTS

Intraduodenal infusion of lipids and citric acid caused relaxation of gastric fundus. Relaxation was similar for lipids and acid (203 +/- 30 vs 199 +/- 43 ml), and was not influenced by cisapride and infusion rate. Cisapride did not influence gastric sensitivity to distension (10 +/- 1.5 vs 9.7 +/- 1.3 mm Hg) and gastric compliance (52.7 +/- 1.2 vs 49.8 +/- 1.8 ml/mm Hg). The antral motor index significantly decreased following infusion of acid and lipids with placebo but not with cisapride.

CONCLUSIONS

Cisapride inhibits the physiological duodenoantral reflexes but does not influence either the mechanical properties of the gastric fundus nor the gastric sensitivity to distension.