Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Electroacupuncture Combined with Chinese Medicine Ironing Therapy for Functional Constipation
Published on: July 5, 2024
Prucalopride for Treatment of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children
Suzanna Hirsch1, Samuel Nurko1, Paul Mitchell2
1Aerodigestive Center, Center for Motility and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, HUN Ground, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Insights
Prucalopride effectively improved upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and feeding difficulties in pediatric patients. This study found a 65% improvement rate, highlighting its potential for treating refractory GI issues in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are prevalent in children.
- Limited prokinetic treatment options exist for pediatric patients.
- This study evaluated prucalopride's efficacy in managing pediatric GI symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of prucalopride in treating upper GI symptoms in children.
- To identify factors associated with treatment improvement.
- To evaluate prucalopride's impact on feeding difficulties in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 71 pediatric patients prescribed prucalopride.
- Data collected included demographics, indications, comorbidities, and feeding outcomes.
- Primary outcome was symptom improvement at first follow-up; statistical analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- 65% of patients (46/71) experienced symptomatic improvement.
- Common indications included nausea (44%), feeding difficulties (20%), and reflux (11%).
- Improvement was associated with enteral tubes, pulmonary, and neurologic comorbidities.
Conclusions:
- Prucalopride demonstrated efficacy in improving refractory upper GI symptoms in pediatric patients.
- Significant symptom relief was observed for nausea, reflux, and feeding difficulties.
- The findings support prucalopride as a viable treatment option for pediatric GI motility disorders.
Background:
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in pediatrics, and few prokinetics for children exist. The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy of prucalopride for treatment of upper GI symptoms and feeding difficulties in children.
Methods:
This was a retrospective study of patients prescribed prucalopride for upper GI symptoms at a single tertiary care center from July 2019 to January 2021. Demographic data, the indication for prucalopride, comorbidities, and feeding data were recorded. The primary outcome was improvement in the primary upper GI symptom at first follow-up after prucalopride initiation. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to assess for factors associated with improvement.
Results:
The final study population included 71 patients who received prucalopride for treatment of upper GI symptoms. The most common indications were nausea (44%), feeding difficulties (20%), and reflux (11%). Patients had a median age of 16.7 years (range 1.9-21.8 years), and they had received 4 ± 4.8 years of care in our GI clinic and trialed 3.0 ± 2.0 other GI medications by the time of the prucalopride prescription. At follow-up 3.6 ± 2.9 months after the prucalopride was prescribed, 46 patients (65%) had symptomatic improvement of the upper GI symptom. Improvement was more likely in patients with enteral tubes (p = 0.04), pulmonary comorbidities (p = 0.006), and neurologic comorbidities (p = 0.02). Amongst patients with feeding difficulties, 79% of patients showed improvements in oral or tube feeding.
Conclusions:
In this sample of children treated for refractory upper GI symptoms at a single tertiary care center, patients showed improvements in symptoms like nausea, reflux, and feeding difficulties after starting prucalopride.
More Related Videos
03:50Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 18, 2023
06:59A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS
01:23Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists
01:17Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...
01:24Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Sucralfate as Mucosal Protective Agents
In this scenario, mucosal protective agents like sucralfate play an essential role. Sucralfate, a complex of sulfated sucrose and aluminum hydroxide, demonstrates its usefulness in acidic conditions,...
01:28Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption