Cisapride stimulates human esophageal motility

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• The prokinetic effects of cisapride on esophageal motility are not fully understood.
• Investigating cisapride's impact on esophageal function is crucial for understanding its therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effects of repeated oral doses of cisapride (10 mg and 20 mg) on interdigestive esophageal motility in healthy male volunteers.
• To determine the dose-response relationship and optimal dosage of cisapride for esophageal motility stimulation.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 10 healthy male volunteers.
• Continuous esophageal motility recording using a sleeve sensor and wet swallows.
• Computer-assisted analysis of motor events and plasma cisapride level measurements.

Main Results:

• Cisapride significantly increased lower esophageal sphincter pressure at both 10 mg and 20 mg doses.
• Esophageal contraction wave amplitude, duration, and area were increased by cisapride, with peak effects at 10 mg.
• Higher doses (20 mg) did not provide additional benefits over 10 mg in healthy subjects.

Conclusions:

• Cisapride demonstrably enhances lower esophageal sphincter pressure and modulates esophageal contraction wave characteristics.
• The observed effects suggest a correlation with cholinergic innervation density.
• A dose of 10 mg appears sufficient to achieve maximal effects on esophageal motility in healthy individuals.