Dihydroergotamine--stimulation of intestinal peristalsis. An experimental and clinical study.
In an experimental study in 15 beagle hounds using strain gauges a significantly increased motility in the small and large intestine after dihydroergotamine was observed. Since this assessment did not provide any information about mucus transport, gastro-intestinal passage time in patient and control groups was determined using radioopaque catheter material. While transit time in the patient group was significantly reduced by 2 x 0.5 mg DHE s.c./day, this effect was not observed in controls. We related the significantly reduced passage time after DHE in the patient group to a normalisation of a functional disturbance of regulation. The action of the drug is seen in the blocking of the stress induced increased sympathetic tone, without the side effects often seen after pure alpha-antagonists of the phentolamine type or the adrenergic guanethidine type neuronal blocking agents. The specific efficacy of DHE as a partial alpha-antagonist is pointed out. For the clinician, postoperative gastro-intestinal atony might be an indication for its use.
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000502:physiology; D004087:Dihydroergotamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004285:Dogs; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000502:physiology; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000517:prevention & control; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013997:Time Factors
D004087:Dihydroergotamine