title: Methods for assessing the effects of drugs on gastrointestinal function in patients and healthy volunteers.
abstract: The gastrointestinal tract is a complex organ with many functions. Many diseases affect the way in which the gastrointestinal tract performs these functions. The pharmaceutical industry and academia are putting great effort into the development of treatments for these diseases. As a consequence, there is increasing pressure on the clinical pharmacologist and gastroenterologist to develop methods to measure the effects of drugs on the gastrointestinal tract. This article reviews the methods currently available to assess gastrointestinal function; in particular it focuses on motility and sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd., Walton, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents