EFFECT OF ERYTHROMYCIN ON OROCECAL TRANSIT RIME IN NORMAL HEALTHY MALE-SUBJECTS - A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of erythromycin on orocecal trans it time (OCTT in 17 healthy male subjects in a double-blind, placebo c ontrolled crossover trial. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After an overnight fa st, each subject received 250 mg erythromycin base, 500 mg erythromyci n base or placebo on three different days. A standardized breakfast me al plus 20 g lactulose was administered 30 mins after ingestion of the test dose. Exhaled breath was collected and hydrogen concentration wa s assessed over 4 h. Hydrogen concentrations over time for each sessio n were analyzed by a generalized logistic function generating a sigmoi dal curve. The 'front' transit time (T-1) was taken as the time when a sustained rise in breath hydrogen concentration was first observed. T he midpoint from baseline to peak hydrogen concentration was denoted T -2 and represented the time when approximately half of the test meal h ad reached the cecum. RESULTS: There was no effect of erythromycin on OCTT. The T-1 (mean+/-SEM) was 103.2+/-11.2, 103.3+/-15.3 and 70.9+/-1 5.9 mins for placebo, 250 mg erythromycin base and 500 mg erythromycin base, respectively (P>0.05). Similarly, the T-2 was 113.3+/-11.3, 113 .9+/-16.5 and 99.3+/-15.3 mins for the three regimens.CONCLUSIONS: Ora l administration of erythromycin does not alter OCTT in healthy male s ubjects.