[Comparison of a new medical device with domperidone in functional dyspepsia: a randomized, cross-over, controlled...

Management of functional dyspepsia is still controversial. Different controlled trials reported a superiority of prokinetics, H2-receptor antagonists and proton-pump inhibitors over placebo; nevertheless, symptomatic improvement after therapy is often incomplete and some of these drugs possess serious side effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new medical device in respect to domperidone in patients with functional dyspepsia.

In a cross-over, randomized trial, 36 patients with functional dyspepsia ingested two daily doses of a medical device (Digerfast) or domperidone (Peridon) for 21 days. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline (T0) and after 21 days (T1) for each treatment. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the generic scale 36-item Short Form (SF-36) were used to assess symptom intensity and changes in health-related quality of life, respectively.

At T0 no statistical difference was found for each symptom between medical device and domperidone. At T1 both treatments significantly improved in respect to baseline values all the evaluated gastrointestinal symptoms (P<0.5 for all comparisons) except for vomiting. No difference in gastrointestinal symptoms between the two treatments was found at T1. Regarding SF-36 evaluation, at T0 no statistical differences were found for each SF-36 parameter between the two regimens. At T1 both treatments significantly improved most of the evaluated SF-36 parameters in respect to baseline values. No difference in SF-36 parameters between the two treatments was found at T1.

Both the medical device and domperidone significantly improved gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in subjects with functional dyspepsia, not showing significant difference in efficacy.