GASTRIC-EMPTYING AND MYOELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH NONULCERDYSPEPSIA - EFFECT OF CISAPRIDE

yWe examined the effect of oral cisapride on gastric emptying time and myoelectrical activity using real-time ultrasonography and cutaneous electrogastrography in 10 children with nonulcer dyspepsia. A clear do minant frequency close to 3 cpm was present both at baseline and after eight weeks of cisapride. After cisapride, nine children had an incre ase in the normal slow wave percentage and the mean percentage of norm al slow wave was significantly different (71.90 +/- 5.19% vs 79.16 +/- 5.54%; P < 0.01). Moreover, an increased stability of the dominant fr equency, determined by computing the coefficient of variation before a nd after cisapride, was found (28.12 +/- 1.72% vs 23.61 +/- 3.47%; P < 0.01). At baseline the gastric emptying time, expressed as T1/2, was 139.76 +/- 40.04 min and at eight weeks 119.76 +/- 30.04 min (P = 0.06 ). As regards the relationship between EGG and gastric emptying, the p roportion of children with improved normal slow wave percentage was si milar to that with improved T1/2 emptying (z = 0.57, P = 0.57). Thus, gastric electrical activity seems to be an important factor in the pat hophysiology of nonulcer dyspepsia in children.