Prokinetic therapy in gastroesophageal reflux disease

There is a growing body of pathophysiological evidence that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by disordered motility and not acid hypersecretion. The key factor in the pathogenesis of GERD is disordered function of the lower esophageal sphincter. Other factors include delayed gastric emptying and decreased peristalsis in the body of the esophagus. The principal symptoms of GERD are heartburn and regurgitation. Studies have demonstrated that up to 50% of patients may have other symptoms of dysmotility including epigastric discomfort or fullness, nausea and early satiety. The use of a prokinetic agent in such patients seems logical. Given its proven superior efficacy over domperidone and metaclopramide in treating GERD, cisapride has become the prokinetic drug of choice for the acute management and maintenance therapy of GERD. In the acute management of GERD, cisapride is superior to placebo and has the same efficacy as H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) in several clinical trials. It is also effective in maintenance therapy for GERD. These studies are reviewed. Cisapride (10 mg qid or 20 mg bid) is effective in the acute treatment of mild to moderate GERD, particularly in patients with heartburn associated with other symptoms of dysmotility, and particularly in patients with heartburn associated with gastroparesis. Combination therapy with an H2RA may be considered if symptoms (particularly dysmotility symptoms) persist with H2RA alone. In severe GERD that is not responsive to conventional doses of a proton pump inhibitor, cotherapy with cisapride or increasing the dose of the proton pump inhibitor are the two therapeutic options to consider. Cisapride 20 mg at bedtime is effective maintenance therapy for patients with mild to moderate GERD.