Rreseatch on the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis by erythromycin

Abstract

AIM: It has been discovered in animal experiment that erythromycin may promote contraction of interdigestive period, accelerate the postprandial contraction of gastric antrum, coordinate the locomotion of stomach and duodenum when it is at a dose lower than the anti infectious dose. The patients with diabetic gastroparesis often have symptoms of gastric emptying dysfunction such as abdominal distention, nausea, vomits, eructation.

METHODS: 19 patients with non insulin dependent diabetes were observed. There were 8 men, 11 women. Their average age was 40.5 ± 10.68 years. All patients had more than 2 symptoms of upper digestive tract. 16 persons who had no symptom were observed as control group. There were 10 men and 6 women. Their average age was 35.7 ± 11.8 years. All of them have no medical history of dyspepsia or peptic ulcer. Erythromycin 125 mg, 2 times a day for 4 wk as a course of treatment. All persons in therapy group had undergone gastric emptying examination. After fasted more than 12 h, EUB-40 type ultrasonographic was used to measure the longest anterotransverse diameter (LAD) between gastric antrum and corpus ventriculi. After a 400 mL fat meal, including 13 g fat, 14 g protein, 45 g carbohydrate. LAD was measured immediately, and every 10 min, until 120 min. The results showed that symptoms score before therapy was 10.8 ± 4.1, and after therapy 4.62 ± 1.71. There was notable difference before and after treatment (P < 0.01). This indicated that erythromycin may cure diabetic gastroparesis, relieve symptoms of upper digestive tract and improve gastric emptying function.

Key Words: Diabetic gastroparesis, Erythromycin