The therapeutic effect of cisapride was ivestigated in four patients with chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIIP). Patients were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the study by scintigraphic evaluation of gastric emptying of liquids and scoring of the following symptoms : abdominal pain, vomiting and distension. Cisapride resulted in an increase in gastric emptying in three of four patients. An improvement in total symptom scores was also shown in these three paients. An oral dose of 0.2mg/kg or 10mg of cisapride was needed to improve their symptoms. It is likely that the therapeutic effect is dependent on the dosage. This study suggests that cisapride may be useful in the treatment of CIIP.
