A Multicenter Clinical Trial of Cisapride Tartrate in Diabetic Patients with Dysmotility Like Dyspeptic Symptoms

Kim, Sun Myung; Choo, Kyo Young; Choi, Myung Gyu; Kim, Jin Il; Bhang, Choon Sang; Han, Sok Won; Kim, Byung Wook; Choi, Hwang; Kim, Sung Soo; Lee, Dong Soo; Choi, Kyu Yong; Kang, Moo Il; Chung, In Sik

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the effects of cisapride tartrate on gastrointestinal symptoms and gastric emptying times in diabetic patients with dysmotility like dyspeptic symptoms.
METHODS
Cisapride was administered before each meal in 61 patients for 4 weeks. The intensity of gastrointestinal symptoms before and after cisapride administration was scored from 0 to 4, in the order of increasing severity of symptoms. In addition, a gastric emptying test was performed.
RESULTS
A significant reduction in the total intensity score of symptoms was observed during the first two weeks, from 8.5+/-2.1 to 4.0+/-3.0 (p < 0.05), and a further reduction was noted during the next two weeks, to 2.8+/-2.8 (p < 0.05). Good to excellent improvement was obtained in 70.4% of the patients, but the improvement in symptoms was not related to age, duration of diabetes, glucose, Hb A1c, neuropathy, or retinopathy. Treatment with cisapride induced a significant regression of symptoms and a significant improvement of delayed gastric emptying from 104.0+/-31.7 minutes to 79.5+/-17.1 (p < 0.05). However, there was a lack of association between the changes in gastric emptying times and improvements in symptoms(r(2)=0.00186). Only 3 patients complained of loose stool, nausea, or dizziness.
CONCLUSIONS
Cisapride was effective in improving dysmotility like dyspeptic symptoms in diabetic patients without serious side effects.