EFFECT OF PROPANTHELINE ON ESOPHAGEAL MOTOR-ACTIVITY IN HUMANS

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 7  (5) , 457-464
Abstract
The action of orally administrated propantheline bromide, an anticholinergic agent, on esophageal motor function was examined. To evaluate these effects, a double blind randomized study was carried out in 10 normal volunteers. An optimal effective dose for each subject was determined according to the Sun and Shay method. Esophageal motor activity following dry and wet shallow was markedly altered by propantheline. This drug dramatically lowered the peristaltic wave amplitude in the smooth muscle part of the esophagus (P < 0.001), decreased the wave velocity in the proximal part of the smooth muscle (P < 0.05), and increased the frequency of both the nonperistaltic and repetitive waves (P < 0.001). On the other hand propantheline weakly but significantly diminished the lower esophageal spincter resting pressure (P < 0.05). The peristaltic function of the human esophageal smooth muscle may be greatly dependent on muscarinic neurotransmission, and, in patients with gastroesophageal reflux, orally as well as parenterally administrated anticholinergic agents are contraindicated.