Effect of cisapride on gastric emptying in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

To investigate the effect of cisapride in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastric emptying time, measured using scintigraphy, and reflux sym ptoms were compared before and after cisapride therapy in 30 patients with endoscopically proven GERD. Gastric emptying time was also measured in 20 a ge-matched controls. Patients with GERD were treated with 30 mg cisapride o rally three times daily for 7 days. Gastric emptying time was significantly reduced following cisapride therapy in 28 of these patients (71.6 +/- 18.1 min versus 57.9 +/- 13.9 min), although it was still longer than the gastr ic emptying time of the control group (i.e. 46.2 +/- 8.1 min). In addition, cisapride relieved heartburn, which is a representative symptom of GERD. T hese findings suggest that cisapride may be useful in treating reflux sympt oms and oesophagitis in patients with GERD.