The effect of cisapride on dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia: reduction of the fasting and postprandial area, but not of the postprandial antral expansion

Objective To test the effect of cisapride on symptom score and on fasting and postprandial antral area in patients with dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia compared with controls. Methods Nineteen consecutive patients with dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia (13 females, six males, aged 18-79 y) and 12 control subjects (six females, six males, aged 19-68 y) were investigated. A symptom score including six upper digestive symptoms rated from 0 to 3 was applied. The patients received in a randomized order cisapride 10 mg t.i.d, (n = 10), or placebo (n = 9) for 3 days. The controls also received cisapride (n = 6) or placebo (n = 6) in the same way. The antral area in fasting condition and immediately after a semiliquid test meal (250 ml, 342 kcal) was assessed by real-time ultrasonography in front of the aorta and mesenteric vein, The measurements were carried out before starting and after finishing the trials with cisapride and placebo. Results The symptom score (mean +/-SD) was 7.1 +/- 2.4 in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia vs 0.5 +/- 0.2 in controls (P < 0.0001). The fasting antral area was 4.5 +/- 0.9 cm(2) in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia vs 2.2 +/- 0.2 cm(2) in controls (P < 0.0001). Postprandial antral area was also larger in dysmotility-like dyspepsia than in controls (6.2 +/- 1.0 vs 3.0 +/- 0.3 cm(2), P = 0.0001), Symptom score correlated with fasting antral area in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia (r = 0.38, P = 0.05). Cisapride decreased the symptom score to 4.5 +/- 2.5 (P = 0.0009) and placebo to 5.3 +/- 2.4 (P = 0.02). Cisapride significantly reduced the fasting antral area and the postprandial antral area in the dyspeptic group, but not in the control group. Postprandial antral expansion was not influenced by cisapride. Placebo did not change the sonographic parameters in both groups. Conclusions In dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia, fasting and postprandial antral areas are wider than in controls. Despite a good placebo response, cisapride is effective in improving the symptoms in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia, associated with the reduction of fasting and postprandial antral areas. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 10: 991-995 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.