Sucralfate and cisapride in the treatment of duodenogastric reflux and dyspepsia: A randomized study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of two different types of drugs - a prokinetic agent (cisapride) and a cytoprotective agent (sucralfate) - on dyspeptic symptoms associated with duodenogastric reflux. The study involved a total of 18 patients with alkaline reflux gastritis diagnosed on the basis of symptoms and endoscopic and histologic evidence. After random selection, nine patients were treated with 30 mg daily of cisapride and nine patients received 4 gm daily of sucralfate for two months. Pyrosis, epigastric pain, sense of epigastric repletion, and foul-tasting mouth were evaluated by each patient on a scale of 0 to 4. Only cisapride significantly reduced the total score for dyspeptic symptoms (P = 0.0038). Considering the symptoms separately, cisapride significantly improved pyrosis (P < 0.03), while sucralfate alleviated the foul-tasting mouth (P < 0.05). Both cisapride and sucralfate appear useful in relieving dyspeptic symptoms associated with duodenogastric reflux.