The effect of cisapride on dyspepsia symptoms and the electrogastrogram in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia

Background: The electrogastrogram (EGG), which records gastric myoelectrical activity, is abnormal in one-third of adult patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), Aim: To observe the effects of cisapride on EGG in adults with NUD. Methods: Twenty-seven NUD patients who had undergone a pre- and post-prandial EGG were entered into an open study, All patients completed a dyspepsia symptom questionnaire and were then treated with cisapride 10 mg t.d.s. The dyspepsia questionnaire was repeated in all those completing 4 weeks of treatment. Those with an initial abnormal EGG (< 70% of slow wave activity at 2-4 cycles per minute) had a repeat EGG at the end of the study. Results: Treatment with cisapride was associated with a significant improvement in the post-prandial EGG (P = 0.007), After 4 weeks of treatment, 7 of 13 abnormal EGGs normalized, Symptom scores improved significantly in the 13 patients with an abnormal EGG who completed treatment (P < 0.0003), but not in NUD patients with a normal EGG (P = 0.48), Conclusion: In this open study, treatment of NUD with cisapride was associated with significant symptom improvement in patients with an abnormal pre-treatment EGG, but not those with a normal EGG, with a significant improvement of the post-prandial EGG.