Agonist effect of erythromycin and its analogues on motilin receptors. A new family of prokinetics? Clinical interest.
It has been known since long that erythromycin may cause unpleasant gastro-intestinal side-effects such as nausea and vomiting. Recent studies however show that at low doses erythromycin may have a beneficial effect. Erythromycin induces the migrating motor complex in the fasted state and after a meal it accelerates gastric emptying. Although largely preliminary, its effects on esophageal, small intestinal, colonic and biliary tract motility have now been studied in several pathological conditions. Erythromycin is certainly a powerful gastrokinetic. Its antibiotic properties are a disadvantage, but more powerful derivatives devoid of antibacterial properties may soon become available. They form a new family of prokinetics.
Peeters
T L
TL
Gut Hormone Laboratory, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009037:Motilin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating / Q000187:drug effects; D011964:Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone / Q000187:drug effects*; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000187:drug effects*
D011964:Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; C050802:motilin receptor; D009037:Motilin; D004917:Erythromycin