title: Effect of itopride on gastric emptying in longstanding diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Delayed gastric emptying (GE) occurs in 30-50% of patients with longstanding type 1 or 2 diabetes, and represents a major cause of morbidity. Current therapeutic options are limited. We aimed at evaluating the effects of itopride on GE in patients with longstanding diabetes. Twenty-five patients (20 type 1, 5 type 2; 10 males, 15 females; mean age 45.2 +/- 2.7 years; body mass index 27.5 +/- 0.9 kg m(-2); duration of diabetes 20.2 +/- 2.4 years) were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover trial. Subjects received both itopride (200 mg) and placebo t.i.d. for 7 days, with a washout of 7-14 days. GE (scintigraphy), blood glucose (glucometer) and upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (questionnaire) were measured following each treatment period. The test meal comprised 100 g ground beef (99mTc-sulphur colloid) and 150 mL of 10% dextrose [67Ga-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)]. There was a slight trend for itopride to accelerate both solid (P = 0.09) and liquid (P = 0.09) GE. With itopride treatment, the emptying of both solids and liquids tended to be more accelerated, as the emptying with placebo was slower (solids: r = 0.39, P = 0.057; liquids: r = 0.44, P < 0.03). Twelve (48%) patients had delayed solid and/or liquid GE on placebo and in this group, itopride modestly accelerated liquid (P < 0.05), but not solid (P = 0.39), emptying. Itopride had no effect on mean blood glucose during the GE measurement (placebo: 9.8 +/- 0.6 mmol L(-1) vs itopride: 9.6 +/-0.6 mmol L(-1)), or GI symptoms (placebo: 1.4 +/- 0.4 vs itopride: 1.8 +/- 0.5). Itopride, in a dose of 200 mg t.i.d. for 7 days, tends to accelerate GE of liquids and solids in longstanding diabetes. The magnitude of this effect appears to be modest and possibly dependent on the rate of GE without itopride.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Maddox
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rayner
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Talley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giguère
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D001786:Blood Glucose; C102254:itopride