title: Gastric emptying in infants with gastroesophageal reflux. Ultrasound evaluation before and after cisapride administration.
abstract: The present study aimed to evaluate gastric emptying in children with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) by means of real-time ultrasonography, on the basis of measurements of the cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum. Twelve children with GER were studied (seven males, five females; age range, 3-13 months) and compared with 12 normal control children (six males, six females; age range, 3-13 months). The diagnosis of GER was confirmed by 24-h esophageal pH-monitoring. The GER patients had a significantly greater antral area than the controls at 90, 105, and 120 min after eating a standard meal (cow's milk formula, 300 ml/m2 body surface area); in addition, final gastric emptying time was significantly greater in the patients than in the controls (145 +/- 36.9 versus 78.7 +/- 19.3 min; p less than 0.0025). After 8 weeks of treatment with cisapride (0.3 ml/kg, three times a day) 24-h esophageal pH-monitoring and ultrasonography studies were repeated in the patients. The total percentage reflux time was significantly lower (p less than 0.038), and ultrasonography showed a decreased antral area at all the various study times, with no significant difference between patients and controls; final gastric emptying time was also significantly lower than before treatment (p less than 0.009). Furthermore, in the GER patients there was a significant correlation between gastric emptying time and the sum of the various reflux times recorded in the 2 h after all meals over the 24 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Pathology, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carroccio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li Voti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montalto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavataio
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tulone
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lorello
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kazmierska
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Acierno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Notarbartolo
mesh_terms: D020117:Cisapride; D005260:Female; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D020117:Cisapride