Cisapride provides symptomatic relief in functional dyspepsia associated with gastric myoelectrical abnormality

Objective: We evaluated the effects of cisapride (10 mg t.d.s. and 20 mg b. d.) on gastrointestinal symptoms and gastric myoelectrical activity in pati ents with functional dyspepsia. Myoelectrical activity was measured by elec trogastrography, Methods: Patients with functional dyspepsia, defined as discomfort in the e pigastrium, a negative endoscopy, and clinical symptoms of dyspepsia, were enrolled, A total of 38 patients participated in the study (23 female: 15 m ale; 24-72 years of age). Screening electrogastrography identified those wi th a normal electrogastrogram (14 subjects) and those with an abnormal elec trogastrogram (24 patients). Patients were randomly assigned to 2 weeks of placebo or 2 weeks of cisapride (10 mg t.d.s.); both groups then received 2 weeks of cisapride (20 mg b.d.), Electrogastrograms were repeated at the e nd of each 2-week: treatment period. Results: Cisapride 10 mg t.d.s. significantly improved symptoms in all pati ents. An additional 2 weeks of treatment with cisapride 20 mg b.d. led to c ontinued improvement in symptoms in all patients, with significant improvem ent in the group with abnormal baseline electrogastrograms, Cisapride signi ficantly improved postprandial bloating and discomfort in patients with abn ormal baseline electrogastrograms. Cisapride also significantly improved po stprandial gastric myoelectrical activity as measured by electrogastrograph y in patients with abnormal baseline electrogastrograms. Conclusion: Cisapride provides symptomatic relief and improves gastric myoe lectrical abnormalities in patients with functional dyspepsia.