Effect of rioprostil, a synthetic prostaglandin E1 on meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion and plasma gastrin levels in humans.

The effects of rioprostil (a newly developed synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue) on meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion was evaluated in 8 healthy human volunteers. Gastric acid output was measured by intragastric titration on 4 different occasions. The following procedure was invariably employed: after a basal period of 45 min, 5 peptone meals (8%, 500 ml each) were given intragastrically in 45-min intervals and gastric acid output was measured continuously. 45 min after the first meal, either placebo or 150, 300 or 600 micrograms of rioprostil were given intragastrically in a randomized order and on different days. 15 min later, the second meal was given and intragastric titration continued. Rioprostil caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the 3-hour integrated gastric acid response to the peptone meals. The percentage of inhibition was 41, 68 and 79%, respectively, for 150, 300 and 600 micrograms of rioprostil. Whereas the inhibition by the two highest doses was statistically significant, this was not the case for the lowest dose of rioprostil. The integrated 3-hour plasma gastrin response to the peptone meals was not significantly changed by any of the doses of rioprostil. No significant adverse effects were observed with rioprostil.