We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Erythromycin enhances oesophageal motility in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux.
- Authors
Chrysos, Emmanuel; Tzovaras, George; Epanomeritakis, Emmanuel; Tsiaoussis, John; Vrachasotakis, Nikolaos; Vassilakis, John Sophocles; Xynos, Evaghelos
- Abstract
Background: Intravenous (i.v.) erythromycin enhances gastric emptying and oesophageal motility in both healthy and disease situations, acting either as a motilin or acetylcholine agonist. The purpose of the present paper was to investigate any possible effect of i.v. erythromycin on oesophageal motility in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR). Methods: In 15 patients with GOR (proven on 24-h ambulatory oesophageal pH measurement), standard oesophageal manometry was performed after i.v. injection of placebo and 200 mg erythromycin, in a random blind fashion. Results: Erythromycin significantly increased lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) pressure from 17 ± 5 to 41 ± 10 mmHg (P < 0.001), without affecting the postdeglutition relaxation of LOS. Erythromycin also increased the amplitude (from 79 ± 34 to 97 ± 40 mmHg; P < 0.001), duration (from 3.4 ± 0.6 to 3.8 ± 0.6 s; P = 0.005), velocity (from 3.1 ± 0.8 to 3.5 ± 1.15 cm/s; P = 0.0047) and strength (from 149 ± 84 to 201 ± 103 mmHg·s; P < 0.001) of peristalsis at 5 cm proximal to the LOS. Similarly, the drug increased the amplitude of peristalsis at 10 and 15 cm proximal to the LOS (from 70 ± 39 to 77.4 ± 37 mmHg; P = 0.049 and from 36 ± 20 to 49 ± 36 mmHg; P = 0.004, respectively) and the duration of peristalsis at the same levels (from 3.1 ± 0.6 to 3.3 ± 0.5 s; P = 0.011, and from 2.7 ± 0.6 to 3 ± 0.5 s; P = 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Intravenously administered erythromycin improves impaired oesophageal motility in patients with GOR. This observation might be of clinical use.
- Subjects
ERYTHROMYCIN; GASTROESOPHAGEAL reflux; ESOPHAGEAL motility; PHYSIOLOGY; PATIENTS
- Publication
ANZ Journal of Surgery, 2001, Vol 71, Issue 2, p98
- ISSN
1445-1433
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1440-1622.2001.02005.x