Published online Dec 15, 1998. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v4.i6.544
Revised: November 20, 1998
Accepted: November 28, 1998
Published online: December 15, 1998
AIM: To compare the therapeutic effect of the herbal medicine Zhishi Xiaopi with that of Cisapride in the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD).
METHODS: Fifty-one FD patients were randomized into Herbal group (n = 27) and Cisapride group (n = 24). Two two groups were given a four-week treatment of Zhishi Xiaopiwan 100 mL, tid, a.c. and Cisapride 5 mg, tid, a.c. respectively. Patients’ symptoms were assessed and 39 patients’ (22 of Herbal group and 17 of Cisapride group) gastric liquid emptying times were measured with ultrasonography before and after the treatment.
RESULTS: The therapeutic effective rates of Herbal group and Cisapride group were 81.49% and 87.50% (P > 0.05). The half gastric emptying time (GET50) and gastric emptying time (GET) of healthy controls and FD patients were 36.12 min ± 10.22 min vs 52.95 min ± 13.49 min and 87.07 min ± 21.11 min vs 120.74 min ± 23.08 min (P < 0.001). The GET50 and GET of Herbal group before and after the treatment were 51.63 min ± 13.15 min vs 45.62 min ± 10.82 min and 117.34 min ± 23.29 min vs 103.26 min ± 22.19 min (P < 0.01). The results of Cisapride group were 54.66 min ± 14.14 min vs 40.95 min ± 11.29 min and 125.12 min ± 24.47 min vs 95.49 min ± 22.31 min (P < 0.01). The differences in values (median) of GET50 and GET for Herbal group and Cisapride group before and after treatment were 5.75 min vs 17.18 min and 13.22 min vs 33.54 min (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Delayed gastric emptying is one of the pathogenesis of FD. Both Zhishi Xiaopi pills and Cisapride can effectively alleviate the symptoms of FD and accelerate gastric liquid emptying. The effect of Zhishi Xiaopiwan on enhancing gastric motility is comparable with but less than that of Cisapride.