prucalopride and Spinal-Cord-Injuries

Prucalopride is a new prokinetic agent, recently available in Europe for the treatment of functional constipation in adults in whom treatment with laxatives failed to provide adequate relief. However, due to its intrinsic properties (highly selective agonist activity and high affinity for 5-HT4 receptors, neuroprotection), this drug has shown the potential to be used in other pathologic conditions, in and outside of the gastrointestinal tract. We performed a systematic review of the evidence supporting these possible alternative uses of prucalopride. Further studies in this area are, however, mandatory.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Benzofurans; Colonic Diseases; Constipation; Humans; Ileus; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction; Multiple Sclerosis; Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists; Spinal Cord Injuries

Chronic constipation (CC) often occurs after spinal cord injury (SCI). Prucalopride is a novel, highly selective, specific serotonin4 receptor agonist with enterokinetic properties. We evaluate the tolerability and pilot efficacy of prucalopride in the treatment of CC due to SCL.. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot, phase 11, dose-escalation study. After 4 weeks' run in, patients received prucalopride 1 mg (n = 8) or placebo (n = 4); 11 new patients were randomized to prucalopride 2 mg (n = 8) or placebo (n = 3) once daily for 4 weeks. Patients recorded bowel function (diary) and assessed constipation severity and treatment efficacy (visual analogue scale (VAS) 0-100 mm). Colonic transit times were determined.. Compared with run in. mean changes in constipation severity (VAS) increased with placebo, but decreased with prucalopride 1 and 2 mg. The VAS score for treatment efficacy showed a clear dose response (medians 4, 52 and 73 for placebo, 1 and 2 mg, respectively). Diary data showed an improvement in average weekly frequency of all bowel movements over 4 weeks within the 2 mg group (median 0.6; 95% CI 0.2; 1.2). There was a significant reduction in median colonic transit time with 2 mg (n = 4; -38.5 h (95% CI -80; -5)). Four patients (2 mg) reported moderate/severe abdominal pain, and two of these discontinued treatment. There were no clinically relevant effects on any of the safety parameters.. This pilot study indicates that prucalopride can play an important role in the management of patients with CC due to SCI.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Benzofurans; Chronic Disease; Constipation; Defecation; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gastrointestinal Agents; Gastrointestinal Motility; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Receptors, Serotonin; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4; Serotonin Receptor Agonists; Spinal Cord Injuries