Assessment of large bowel motility by cine magnetic resonance imaging using two different prokinetic agents: a feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess large bowel motility, induced by 2 prokinetic agents, senna tea and erythromycin, using functional cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Twelve volunteers underwent functional cine MRI before and after the administration of senna tea or erythromycin. The protocol consisted of 2 sets of repeated measurements using coronal T2-weighted HASTE sequences, adjusted to the course of the colon. For the assessment of large bowel motility, the changes of the luminal diameter were measured at 5 defined locations in the ascending, transverse, and descending colon.


RESULTS
In all examined volunteers after senna tea, the mean number of significant changes in the ascending colon was 8.6 and after erythromycin, 7.2. In the transverse colon, 9.6 diameters changed significantly for senna tea and 7.2 for erythromycin. In the descending colon, 6.6 diameters changed after senna tea and 7.2 after erythromycin.


CONCLUSIONS
Senna tea and erythromycin proved to induce large bowel motility; senna tea was more effective. Functional cine MRI is a reliable, noninvasive method for the assessment of colonic motility.
Buhmann
Sonja
S
Department of Clinical Radiology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany. Sonja.Buhmann@med.uni-muenchen.de
Kirchhoff
Chlodwig
C
Wielage
Christian
C
Mussack
Thomas
T
Reiser
Maximilian F
MF
Lienemann
Andreas
A
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002400:Cathartics / Q000494:pharmacology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D012676:Senna Extract / Q000494:pharmacology
D002400:Cathartics; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D012676:Senna Extract