Functional dyspepsia and delayed gastric emptying: Role of treatment with cisapride and placebo

24 patients with symptoms of functional dyspepsia and delayed gastric emptying of liquids (measured by sonographic means) are prospectively studied. After 6 weeks of treatment with cisapride or placebo, 9 of 12 subjects treated with cisapride showed an improved gastric emptying such as 5 of 12 subjects treated with placebo. Symptoms are improved in 8 of 12 cisapride-treated and 10 of 12 placebo-treated subjects. This study demonstrates, that a prokinetic therapy does improve gastric motility but is not better in relieving symptoms of functional dyspepsia than treatment with placebo. Again it is demonstrated that gastrointestinal motility as a complex process can also be influenced by placebo-therapy and psychic factors. Even without improvement of gastric motility, abdominal discomfort can disappear.