A comparison between Zhishi Xiaopiwan and cisapride in treatment of functional dyspepsia.

AIM:To compare the therapeutic effect of the herbal medicine Zhishi Xiaopi with that of Cisapride in the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD).METHODS:Fifty-one FD patients were randomized into Herbal group (n =27) and Cisapride group (n =24). Two two groups were given a four-week treatment of Zhishi Xiaopi 100ml, tid, a.c. and Cisapride 5mg, tid, a.c. respectively. Patients' symptoms were assessed and 39 patients'(22 of Herbal group and 17 of Cisapride group) gastric liquid emptying times were measured with ultrasonography before and after the treatment.RESULTS:The therapeutic effective rates of Herbal group and Cisapride group were 81.49% and 87.50% (P> 0.05). The half gastric emptying time (GET50) and gastric emptying time (GET) of healthy controls and FD patients were 36.12min ± 10.22min vs 52.95min ± 13.49min and 87.07min ± 21.11min vs 120.74min ± 23.08min (P < 0.001).The GET(50) and GET of Herbal group before and after the treatment were 51.63min ± 13.15min vs 45.62min ± 10.82min and 117.34min ± 23.29min vs 103.26min ± 22.19min (P < 0.01). The results of Cisapride group were 54.66min ± 14.14min vs 40.95min ± 11.29min and 125.12min ± 24.47minvs 95.49min ± 22.31min (P < 0.01). The differences in values (median) of GET(50) and GET for Herbal group and Cisapride group before and after treatment were 5.75min vs 17.18min and 13.22min vs 33.54min (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Delayed gastric emptying is one of the pathogenesis of FD. Both Zhishi Xiaopi pills and Cisapride can effectively alleviate the symptoms of FD and accelerate gastric liquid emptying.The effect of Zhishi Xiaopiwan on enhancing gastric motility is comparable with but less than that of Cisapride.