Diabetes Care, Vol 20, Issue 7 1134-1137, Copyright © 1997 by American Diabetes Association
Erythromycin derivative improves gastric emptying and insulin requirement in diabetic patients with gastroparesis
M Ishii, T Nakamura, F Kasai, T Baba and K Takebe
Medical Check-up Centre, Hakodate Chuo Hospital, Japan.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the erythromycin derivative EM523L on
gastric emptying and postprandial insulin requirement in insulin-dependent
diabetic patients with severe gastroparesis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:
In six IDDM patients with severe gastroparesis (two men and four women,
mean age 44.5 years [range 36-53]), the insulin infusion pattern during
feedback control with an artificial endocrine pancreas device (Biostator)
after intake of a test meal, the retention rate of residual isotope
([99m]Tc-labelled Sn-colloid) in the stomach, and the time-concentration
curve of plasma acetaminophen as the marker for liquid emptying were
studied with EM523L or a control placebo RESULTS: Time courses of insulin
infusion rates peaked within 120 min after intake of the test meal in the
EM523L phase, whereas no apparent peak rates were observed in the control
phase. The total amount of insulin required in the first 90 min
postprandial was significantly greater in the EM523L phase than in the
control phase. EM523L significantly decreased the residual isotope ratio in
the stomach at > or =50 min postprandial and increased the plasma
acetaminophen concentrations at 30-120 min postprandial, compared with
respective values in the control phase. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results
obtained from a small number of patients suggest that EM523L or
erythromycin analogs, which have agonistic activity to motilin receptors as
well as no antibacterial effect, may be useful to accelerate gastric
emptying and improve insulin requirement patterns, thereby establishing
more stable glycemic control.