title: Randomized trial assessing gastric emptying in patients with chronic hepatitis C during interferon-alpha or -beta therapy and effect of cisapride.
abstract: We examined the effects of interferon-alpha or -beta therapy on gastric emptying and digestive symptoms. The effects of cisapride on gastric emptying and digestive symptoms were also evaluated. The subjects were 48 patients with chronic hepatitis C. All patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups (A, interferon-alpha group; B, interferon-alpha and cisapride group; C, interferon-beta group; D, interferon-beta and cisapride group). Gastric emptying was measured before initiation of interferon therapy and two weeks after initiation of therapy. The half-time of gastric emptying (T1/2) was calculated. The T1/2 ratio was calculated by dividing the T1/2 after interferon therapy by the T1/2 before interferon therapy. Digestive symptom scores were determined at the time of the gastric emptying tests. The T1/2 after interferon therapy was higher than that before therapy in groups A and C (P = 0.002 and 0.059, respectively). The digestive symptom score after interferon therapy was higher than that before therapy in groups A and C (P = 0.012 and 0.093, respectively). The T1/2 ratio in group B was significantly lower than that in group A (P = 0.021), and the T1/2 ratio in group D was lower than that in group C, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.057). Interferon-alpha is associated with a greater delay in gastric emptying and a higher symptom score than is interferon-beta. Administration of cisapride corrects the delayed gastric emptying and relieves associated digestive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishiguchi
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiomi
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurooka
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Nobumitsu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamori
authors.forename: Daiki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Habu
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Joji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ochi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020117:Cisapride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta; D020117:Cisapride