GASTRIC-EMPTYING AND ANTRAL MOTILITY IN REFLUX ESOPHAGITIS - EFFECT OF ORAL METOCLOPRAMIDE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 74  (2) , 253-256
Abstract
The gastric emptying of the liquid phase of a meal and the fasting antral contractility were studied in 13 patients with reflux esophagitis and in 9 age-matched control subjects. Gastric emptying half-time (t1/2) in reflux esophagitis patients was no different from that of control subjects (P < 0.30). Antral contractility (number of antral contractions and the cumulative antral activity) was lower in reflux esophagitis patients than in control subjects (P < 0.001). Oral metoclopramide (15 mg) accelerated gastric emptying, increased the number of antral contractions as well as the cumulative antral activity in patients with reflux esophagitis (P < 0.001). It only increased the cumulative antral activity in normal subjects (P < 0.01). Metoclopramide may be potentially beneficial to reflux esophagitis patients by reducing the volume of gastric contents available for gastroesophageal reflux.