THE EFFECT OF CISAPRIDE ON DYSPEPSIA SYMPTOMS AND THE ELECTROGASTROGRAM IN PATIENTS WITH NONULCER DYSPEPSIA

Background: The electrogastrogram (EGG), which records gastric myoelec trical activity, is abnormal in one-third of adult patients with non-u lcer dyspepsia (NUD), Aim: To observe the effects of cisapride on EGG in adults with NUD. Methods: Twenty-seven NUD patients who had undergo ne a pre- and post-prandial EGG were entered into an open study, All p atients completed a dyspepsia symptom questionnaire and were then trea ted with cisapride 10 mg t.d.s. The dyspepsia questionnaire was repeat ed in all those completing 4 weeks of treatment. Those with an initial abnormal EGG (< 70% of slow wave activity at 2-4 cycles per minute) h ad a repeat EGG at the end of the study. Results: Treatment with cisap ride was associated with a significant improvement in the post-prandia l EGG (P = 0.007), After 4 weeks of treatment, 7 of 13 abnormal EGGs n ormalized, Symptom scores improved significantly in the 13 patients wi th an abnormal EGG who completed treatment (P < 0.0003), but not in NU D patients with a normal EGG (P = 0.48), Conclusion: In this open stud y, treatment of NUD with cisapride was associated with significant sym ptom improvement in patients with an abnormal pre-treatment EGG, but n ot those with a normal EGG, with a significant improvement of the post -prandial EGG.