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Abstract
Background: Patients receiving interferon-α often experience symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, anorexia, and nausea, which suggest a delay in gastric emptying. Reduction of the dosages of interferon-α or even interruption of the treatment is sometimes required because of these symptoms. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of interferon-α on gastric emptying and to evaluate the effects of cisapride on gastric emptying and upper abdominal symptoms during interferon-α therapy. Methods: Gastric emptying in 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C was estimated by the sulfamethizole capsule method before and 1 and 2 weeks after the beginning of interferon-α (6 million U/day) therapy. Results: Before therapy none of the patients complained of upper abdominal symptoms, and all had normal gastric emptying. Interferon treatment delayed gastric emptying in 12 of the patients and induced discomfort and anorexia in 9 of the patients. The administration of cisapride reversed the delayed gastric emptying in six of seven patients and relieved abdominal discomfort and anorexia. Conclusions: These findings indicate that interferon-α delays gastric emptying and suggest that cisapride administration corrects the delayed gastric emptying and relieves the abdominal symptoms associated with interferon-α therapy.