Erythromycin elicits opposite effects on antro-bulbar and duodenal motility: analysis in diabetics by cineradiography.

We have previously demonstrated by cineradiography analysis that erythromycin (Ery) increases antral contractility and antropyloric coordination in diabetics. The aim of this study was to further characterize antro-bulbar and duodenal motility after Ery i.v. administration. Fourteen diabetic patients (mean age 61.2 years) were randomly allocated to receive either 100 or 500 mg of Ery intravenously 4 hours after a standard solid liquid meal. After ingestion of a barium sulfate suspension, a series of 15 fluorographic plates (one every two seconds) was performed. the same procedure was repeated twice for each subject with a delay of 3 days once before and once after Ery. Antral, bulbar and duodenal areas and evolution diagrams were calculated in baseline conditions and after Ery administration using a graphic table connected to a microcomputer. No differences were found between the two doses of the drug. Ery significantly decreased antral (1284 +/- 268 mm2 vs 704 +/- 181 mm2; P < 0.01) and bulbar areas (127 +/- 26 mm2 vs 73 +/- 21 mm2; P < 0.01). In contrast, duodenal areas were significantly increased after Ery (875 +/- 112 mm2 vs 575 +/- 112 mm2; P < 0.01). This study suggests that the known prokinetic effect of Ery on gastric emptying seen in diabetic patients could be related to an increase of motility in the antrum and in the bulb simultaneously with a relaxation in the duodenum.

[Antro-pyloro-bulbar contractibility in diabetics studied by cineradiography. Effect of erythromycin]. / Etude de la contractilité antro-pyloro-bulbaire chez le diabétique par analyse de cinéradiographies. Effet de l'érythromycine.

We studied antropyloroduodenal contractility in diabetics and the effect of erythromycin IV (100-500 mg) using the non invasive Boiron cineradiographic method analysis. Fourteen diabetics and 22 controls were examined. Four hours after a standard liquid-solid meal, patients drank 250 mL baryum solution. Fluorographic plates (10 x 10 cm) were taken every 2 s during 30 s. Semi-automatic data processing analysis allowed to measure motility parameters including antral (CA) and bulbar (CB) contractility indexes; pyloric opening index (OP), gastric (FG) and bulbar (FB) frequencies. Three types of pylorus behaviour patterns were define: A and B related to antropyloric and antropyloroduodenal coordination respectively and N without coordination. In diabetics, CA, OP and FG were decreased vs controls (P < 0.01) (CA: 65.5 +/- 6.8 vs 83.1 +/- 2.4%; OP: 60.9 +/- 8.7 vs 84.8 +/- 1.9%; FG: 2.42 +/- 0.14 vs 3.08 +/- 0.04 c/min) and antropylorbulbar coordination altered (N was predominant; no bulbar cycles at 3/min). Antral hypocontractility was correlated with autonomic neuropathy. After erythromycin, radiological parameters returned to normal values (CA = 83.0 +/- 2.4%; OP = 86.0 +/- 4.7%; FG = 3.0 +/- 0.16 c/min) and coordination improved type N disappeared and FB = 3 c/min (58%). Cineradiographic analysis is simple, able to show antropylorobulbar contractile abnormalities, to study pharmacological effects, and in diabetics is capable of studying improvement of motility parameters with erythromycin.

[Portal vein thrombosis and hereditary protein C deficiency. Presentation of a case and review of the literature]. / Thrombose portale et déficit héréditaire en protéine C. Présentation d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

The authors report the case of a 51 year-old man, without any personal or familial history of thromboembolism, presenting with abdominal pain. Portal vein thrombosis was demonstrated by ultrasonography and arteriography. The patient had neither esophageal varices or congestive gastropathy. No cause for portal vein thrombosis was detected. Type I protein C deficiency was demonstrated in this patient as well as in his asymptomatic sister. The presence of a (fortuitously?) associated increase in platelet aggregability initially led to a trial regimen of aspirin (300 mg per day); abdominal pain resolved, and a partial regression of portal vein thrombosis was demonstrated on ultrasonograms six months later; no further complications occurred during the 4-year follow-up period. The 13 previously published cases of protein C deficiency-associated portal vein thrombosis are reviewed.