Refractory spinal cord injury induced gastroparesis: resolution with erythromycin lactobionate, a case report

Erythromycin lactobionate (ERY), a macrolide antibiotic, has been the focus of investigation as a new gastrointestinal prokinetic agent. In individuals who are able-bodied (AB), ERY has shown promise in various forms of gastroparesis (GP). Recent evidence suggests that medications used to stimulate intestinal motility in individuals who are AB have had similar results in those individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Medications that have been used in the past for GP in SCI include metaclopramide, neostigmine, and bethanechol. In this observation, a patient with T-6 paraplegia, who developed GP secondary to acute SCI, is presented. During his hospital stay, the patient was treated with gastric decompression, bowel rest, H2 blockers, intravenous metaclopramide, and eventually required parenteral nutritional support. ERY was started and symptoms abated. At this point, the nasogastric tube was removed and oral feeding was successfully started. This case report is the first to describe a patient with refractory SCI-induced GP who responded to intravenous ERY. Further study in this area is warranted.