Effects of acotiamide on esophageal motility in healthy subjects: a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled crossover study

Background

Acotiamide is a new drug that exhibits prokinetic activity by enhancing the release of acetylcholine. However, its effects on esophageal motility currently remain unknown. Therefore, we herein investigated the effects of acotiamide on esophageal motility in healthy, asymptomatic subjects.

Methods

Thirty healthy subjects received 100 mg of acotiamide or placebo three times a day for 7 days separated by a 28-day washout period in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. On the seventh day of treatment, esophagogastric junction pressure, integrated relaxation pressure, and primary peristalsis were assessed using high-resolution manometry.

Results

Esophagogastric junction pressure was significantly higher in the acotiamide group (median 28.2 mmHg) than in the placebo group (24.0 mmHg), whereas no significant differences were observed in integrated relaxation pressure, the distal contractile integral, or contraction patterns between the two groups. Among 13 healthy subjects with peristaltic abnormalities, no significant differences were noted in integrated relaxation pressure or the distal contractile integral between the acotiamide and placebo groups; however, the esophagogastric junction pressure (acotiamide 23.4 mmHg; placebo 21.7 mmHg) significantly increased, the contraction pattern significantly improved, and the frequency of esophageal peristaltic abnormalities significantly decreased in the acotiamide group.

Conclusion

Acotiamide improves the peristaltic pattern in patients with peristaltic abnormalities by decreasing weak peristalsis with a small break.