Symptomatic improvement with one-year cisapride treatment in neuropathic chronic intestinal dysmotility

To assess the efficacy of a prokinetic agent in the long-term treatment of chronic intestinal dysmotility and the influence of extrinsic denervation.

We assessed symptoms, compliance and untoward effects in an open, 1-year trial of cisapride, 20 mg t.d.s., in 37 patients with neuropathic forms of chronic intestinal dysmotility. Patients' autonomic function had previously been characterized; effects of cisapride at 12 weeks in a placebo-controlled trial were previously reported.

Seventeen patients had idiopathic dysmotility, 11 had diabetes mellitus with autonomic dysfunction, five had had previous gastric surgery and four had neurological syndromes. Median medication compliance was 98.9% for the study period completed by each individual. Median duration of follow-up was 9.5 months; 20 patients completed 1 year of treatment, and 27 of 37 at least 6 months of treatment; seven dropped out because of lack of benefit. Mean total symptom score was significantly reduced at the last observation relative to the entry into the trial; this was particularly the case in those patients without abdominal vagal dysfunction. One patient withdrew because of aggravation of abdominal pain.

During an open, long-term trial, cisapride, 20 mg t.d.s., provided continued symptomatic relief to patients with chronic intestinal dysmotility, particularly those without vagal neuropathy.