Clinical trial: effects of tegaserod on gastric motor and sensory function in patients with functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND Tegaserod, a serotonin receptor type-4 partial agonist, stimulates gastrointestinal motility and has been shown to increase gastric volumes before and after a meal in healthy volunteers. Its effect on gastric motor and sensory function in patients with functional dyspepsia is unclear. AIM To evaluate the effects of tegaserod on gastric compliance, accommodation and gastric sensory function in patients with functional dyspepsia and healthy volunteers. METHODS Sixteen patients with functional dyspepsia and 12 healthy volunteers were studied on two occasions, each after a 7-day treatment with either placebo or tegaserod 6 mg b.d. using a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. After each treatment period a gastric barostat study was performed fasting and during intraduodenal lipid infusion. RESULTS Tegaserod increased postprandial gastric compliance in functional dyspepsia patients (P = 0.04). Healthy volunteers showed enhanced postprandial gastric compliance after placebo (P = 0.03). Between-treatment analysis of gastric accommodation revealed a significant increase in intrabag volumes after tegaserod in healthy volunteer (P = 0.04); no difference could be seen in functional dyspepsia patients. Tegaserod had no effect on gastric sensation. CONCLUSIONS Tegaserod enhances postprandial gastric compliance in functional dyspepsia patients and gastric accommodation in healthy volunteers. The improvement of proximal gastric motor function suggests a beneficial role of tegaserod in patients with functional dyspepsia.