ERYTHROMYCIN ELICITS OPPOSITE EFFECTS ON ANTRO-BULBAR AND DUODENAL MOTILITY - ANALYSIS IN DIABETICS BY CINERADIOGRAPHY

We have previously demonstrated by cineradiography analysis that eryth romycin (Ery) increases antral contractility and antropyloric coordina tion in diabetics. The aim of this study was to further characterize a ntro-bulbar and duodenal motility after fry iv administration. Fourtee n diabetic patients (mean age 61.2 years) were randomly allocated to r eceive either 100 or 500 mg of Ery intravenously 4 hours after a stand ard solid liquid meal. After ingestion of a barium sulfate suspension, a series of 15 fluorographic plates tone every two seconds) was perfo rmed. The same procedure was repeated twice for each subject with ct d elay of 3 days once before and once after Fry Antral, bulbar and duode nal areas and evolution diagrams were calculated in baseline condition s and after Fry administration using a graphic table connected to a mi crocomputer No differences were found between the two doses of the dru g. fry significantly deer-eased antral (1284 +/- 268 mm(2) vs 704 +/- 181 mm(2); P < 0.01) and bulbar areas (127 +/- 26 mm(2) vs 73 +/- 21 m m(2); P < 0.01). In contrast, duodenal areas were significantly increa sed after Fry (875 +/- 112 mm(2) vs 575 +/- 112 mm(2); P < 0.01). This study suggests that the known prokinetic effect of Fry on gastric emp tying seen in diabetic patients could be related to an increase of mot ility in the antrum and in the bulb simultaneously with a relaxation i n the duodenum.