Influence of cisapride on antroduodenal motor function in healthy subjects and diabetics with autonomic neuropathy.

Antroduodenal manometry was used to assess motility in 10 healthy volunteers and 15 diabetics with cardiac autonomic neuropathy whilst they received 20 mg cisapride orally or an apparently identical placebo. Interdigestive motility was recorded after an overnight fast and for 2 hours following a 500 kcal liquid meal. Active treatment did not influence the number or duration of interdigestive motility cycles in either group although antroduodenal co-ordination in both the fasting and the fed state was enhanced by cisapride (P less than 0.05). In diabetics the postprandial antral motility index was increased by cisapride, whereas in healthy subjects antral and duodenal motility indices were increased both fasting and in the fed state (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that impaired antroduodenal co-ordination is of importance in delaying gastric emptying by diabetic subjects.