title: Effect of prucalopride on intestinal gas tolerance in patients with functional bowel disorders and constipation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with functional bowel disorders develop gas retention and symptoms in response to intestinal gas loads that are well tolerated by healthy subjects. Stimulation of 5HT-4 receptors in the gut has both prokinetic and antinociceptive effects. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of prucalopride, a highly selective 5HT-4 agonist, on gas transit and tolerance in women with functional bowel disorders complaining of constipation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four women with functional bowel disorders complaining of constipation were included in the study. Patients were studied twice on separate days in a cross-over design. On each study day, an intestinal gas challenge test was performed. During the five previous days, prucalopride (2 mg/day) or placebo was administered. Abdominal symptoms, stool frequency, and stool consistency were recorded during the treatment period on daily questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the gas challenge test, prucalopride did not decrease the volume of gas retained in the subset of patients who had significant gas retention (≥ 200 mL) while on placebo. However, in those patients who had increased symptoms during the gas test (≥ 3 on a 0 to 6 scale) when on placebo, prucalopride did significantly reduce the perception of symptoms (2.3 ± 0.5 mean score vs 3.5 ± 0.3 on placebo; P = 0.045). During the treatment period with prucalopride, patients exhibited an increase in the total number of bowel movements and decreased stool consistency compared with placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prucalopride reduces abdominal symptoms without modifying gas retention when patients with functional bowel disorders are challenged with the gas transit and tolerance test. European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT2011-006354-86).
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|Center for Biomedical Research in the Network of Liver and Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malagelada
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|Center for Biomedical Research in the Network of Liver and Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Adoración
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|Center for Biomedical Research in the Network of Liver and Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|Center for Biomedical Research in the Network of Liver and Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accarino
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|Center for Biomedical Research in the Network of Liver and Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|Center for Biomedical Research in the Network of Liver and Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan-R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Malagelada
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|Center for Biomedical Research in the Network of Liver and Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7327-960X
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azpiroz
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D005740:Gases; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C406662:prucalopride
keywords: functional digestive symptoms; intestinal gas; intestinal motility; intestinal sensitivity; prucalopride