Last update:
04-Jan-2001

Arch Hellen Med, 17(4), July-August 2000, 390-394

ORIGINAL PAPER

Effects of cisapride on gastroparesis in patients
with type 2 diabetes mellitus

I.N. MIGDALIS,¹ P. GEΟRGOULIAS,² N. DIMAKOPOULOS,²
N. PAPAPANAGIOTOU,¹ K. CHAIROPOULOS,³ N. VARVARIGOS¹

¹2nd Department of Internal Medicine
²Department of Nuclear Medicine
³Department of Neurology, NIMTS Hospital, Athens, Greece

OBJECTIVE Ιnvestigation of the effects of cisapride on gastric emptying in diabetic patients.
METHOD Fifteen patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were studied. All the subjects were documented to have autonomic neuropathy and delayed gastric emptying. Autonomic neuropathy was assessed by standard cardiovascular reflex tests. The measurement of gastric emptying was made by double isotope tests before and after each patient had taken cisapride in a dose of 40 mg/day for 12 weeks. Symptoms related to gastric function were rated by the patients on a 3-point scale before and after treatment.
RESULTS After administration of cisapride for 12 weeks the gastric emptying of both solids and liquids was faster (P<0.01, P<0.02, respectively), and there were reported improvements in symptoms (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that cisapride improves gastric emptying in type 2 diabetics with gastroparesis and is associated with a significant reduction in symptoms.

Key words: Autonomic neuropathy, Cisapride, Diabetes mellitus, Gastroparesis.