We have investigated prospectively the effect of cisapride on dysfunctional upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, abdominal fullness, early satiety and anorexia in patients with chronic liver
diseases.
Fifty-six patients were given cisapride 2.5mg tid for 4 weeks. If the symptoms improved, the same dosage of cisapride was given an additional 4 weeks. If there was no symptomatic improvement, the dosage was increased to 5mg tid for the next 4
weeks. The
average of total symptom scores before the treatment and at 4th and 8th week after the treatment were 5.1±1.6, 1.9±1.8 and 1.6±1.8 respectively. there was statistically significant improvement in the total symptom scores after the treatment
(p<0.05).
The score of each symptoms except vomiting improved significantly after th treatment. In 12 patients, the dosage of cisapride was increased but there was no improvement in the average symptom score even after the dose increment. The side effects
were
abdominal pain in 3 patients, epigastric soreness, erythematous skin rash, facial edema and dizziness in each aptient respectively. Cisapride did not cause abnormalities in laboratory data such as LFT, CBC and urinalysis. In conclusion, cisapride
was
effective ans safe in relieving dysfunctional upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with chronic liver diseases.
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