Effects of Pirenzepine and Atropine on Gastroduodenal Motor Patterns in Duodenal Ulcer Patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of pirenzepine with those of atropine, a non-selective antimuscarinic agent, on gastroduodenal motor patterns in duodenal ulcer patients. Twenty patients were allocated at random to 2 groups of 10 subjects each. The drugs were administered by bolus intravenous injection as equiactive antisecretory doses of 10 mg pirenzepine and 1 mg atropine. Before and 15 min after drug administration all patients underwent a gastroduodenal manometric and reflexogenic study with a specially designed probe and three inflatable latex balloons. Both drugs significantly decreased antral and duodenal pressure, but atropine was much more effective than pirenzepine: 91 ± 2% verus 54 ± 9% decrease in the motility index for the antrum and 95 ± 1% versus 49 ± 7% for the duodenum (p < 0.01). The antral motor threshold was not modified by either drug. The results of this study confirm the selectivity of action of pirenzepine on gastric function.

Key Words:

• Atropine
• gastroduodenal motility
• pirenzepine