Use of erythromycin for the treatment of severe chronic constipation in children
The efficacy of erythromycin was assessed in the treatment of 14 children aged 4 to 13 years with refractory chronic constipation, and presenting megarectum and fecal impaction. A double-blind, placebo- controlled, crossover study was conducted at the Pediatric Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic of...
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Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
2003-10-01
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Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2003001000016 |
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doaj-349a2955139b4b1c8db3c6898a5e80572020-11-24T22:34:25ZengAssociação Brasileira de Divulgação CientíficaBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research0100-879X1414-431X2003-10-0136101391139610.1590/S0100-879X2003001000016Use of erythromycin for the treatment of severe chronic constipation in childrenM.A. Bellomo-BrandãoE.F. CollaresE.A.L. da-Costa-PintoThe efficacy of erythromycin was assessed in the treatment of 14 children aged 4 to 13 years with refractory chronic constipation, and presenting megarectum and fecal impaction. A double-blind, placebo- controlled, crossover study was conducted at the Pediatric Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital. The patients were randomized to receive placebo for 4 weeks followed by erythromycin estolate, 20 mg kg-1 day-1, divided into four oral doses for another 4 weeks, or vice versa. Patient outcome was assessed according to a clinical score from 12 (most severe clinical condition) to 0 (complete recovery). At enrollment in the study and on the occasion of follow-up medical visits at two-week intervals, patient score and laxative requirements were recorded. During the first 30 days, the mean ± SD clinical score for the erythromycin group (N = 6) decreased from 8.2 ± 2.3 to 2.2 ± 1.0 while the score for the placebo group (N = 8) decreased from 7.8 ± 2.1 to 2.9 ± 2.8. During the second crossover phase, the score for patients on erythromycin ranged from 2.9 ± 2.8 to 2.4 ± 2.1 and the score for the patients on placebo worsened from 2.2 ± 1.0 to 4.3 ± 2.3. There was a significant improvement in score when patients were on erythromycin (P < 0.01). Mean laxative requirement was lower when patients ingested erythromycin (P < 0.05). No erythromycin-related side effects occurred. Erythromycin was useful in this group of severely constipated children. A larger trial is needed to fully ascertain the prokinetic efficacy of this drug as an adjunct in the treatment of severe constipation in children.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2003001000016Gastrointestinal motilityConstipationChildrenProkineticsErythromycin |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
M.A. Bellomo-Brandão E.F. Collares E.A.L. da-Costa-Pinto |
spellingShingle |
M.A. Bellomo-Brandão E.F. Collares E.A.L. da-Costa-Pinto Use of erythromycin for the treatment of severe chronic constipation in children Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research Gastrointestinal motility Constipation Children Prokinetics Erythromycin |
author_facet |
M.A. Bellomo-Brandão E.F. Collares E.A.L. da-Costa-Pinto |
author_sort |
M.A. Bellomo-Brandão |
title |
Use of erythromycin for the treatment of severe chronic constipation in children |
title_short |
Use of erythromycin for the treatment of severe chronic constipation in children |
title_full |
Use of erythromycin for the treatment of severe chronic constipation in children |
title_fullStr |
Use of erythromycin for the treatment of severe chronic constipation in children |
title_full_unstemmed |
Use of erythromycin for the treatment of severe chronic constipation in children |
title_sort |
use of erythromycin for the treatment of severe chronic constipation in children |
publisher |
Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica |
series |
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
issn |
0100-879X 1414-431X |
publishDate |
2003-10-01 |
description |
The efficacy of erythromycin was assessed in the treatment of 14 children aged 4 to 13 years with refractory chronic constipation, and presenting megarectum and fecal impaction. A double-blind, placebo- controlled, crossover study was conducted at the Pediatric Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital. The patients were randomized to receive placebo for 4 weeks followed by erythromycin estolate, 20 mg kg-1 day-1, divided into four oral doses for another 4 weeks, or vice versa. Patient outcome was assessed according to a clinical score from 12 (most severe clinical condition) to 0 (complete recovery). At enrollment in the study and on the occasion of follow-up medical visits at two-week intervals, patient score and laxative requirements were recorded. During the first 30 days, the mean ± SD clinical score for the erythromycin group (N = 6) decreased from 8.2 ± 2.3 to 2.2 ± 1.0 while the score for the placebo group (N = 8) decreased from 7.8 ± 2.1 to 2.9 ± 2.8. During the second crossover phase, the score for patients on erythromycin ranged from 2.9 ± 2.8 to 2.4 ± 2.1 and the score for the patients on placebo worsened from 2.2 ± 1.0 to 4.3 ± 2.3. There was a significant improvement in score when patients were on erythromycin (P < 0.01). Mean laxative requirement was lower when patients ingested erythromycin (P < 0.05). No erythromycin-related side effects occurred. Erythromycin was useful in this group of severely constipated children. A larger trial is needed to fully ascertain the prokinetic efficacy of this drug as an adjunct in the treatment of severe constipation in children. |
topic |
Gastrointestinal motility Constipation Children Prokinetics Erythromycin |
url |
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2003001000016 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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