Treatment with cisapride of the gastrointestinal and urological sequelae of spinal cord transection: case report.

We describe the case of a paraplegic patient who suffered traumatic spinal cord injury at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra. Within a short period of time following the injury, urinary (neuropathic bladder) and gastrointestinal (atomic colon) sequelae arose. Treatment with Cisapride (R 51 619, Janssen Pharmaceutica) was undertaken in an attempt to increase colonic motility and to reduce urinary retention. These goals were reached rapidly with a dose of 10 mg q.i.d.; the effect has been maintained for at least 18 months since starting the therapy.