PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S M Catnach
AU  - P D Fairclough
TI  - Erythromycin and the gut.
AID  - 10.1136/gut.33.3.397
DP  - 1992 Mar 01
TA  - Gut
PG  - 397--401
VI  - 33
IP  - 3
4099  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/33/3/397.short
4100  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/33/3/397.full
SO  - Gut1992 Mar 01; 33
AB  - The commonly reported gastrointestinal side effects that occur with erythromycin are related to its prokinetic action on the gut, mediated, at least in part, by its motilin receptor stimulating activity. This action may be of clinical use in conditions associated with gastrointestinal hypomotility such as diabetic gastroparesis and intestinal pseudo-obstruction, although further work needs to be done to establish the long term therapeutic uses of erythromycin in these disorders. Macrolide compounds with no antibacterial properties but which have a pronounced prokinetic action on the gut have already been synthesised and are currently being developed for future use in man. These 'motilides' should provide a useful addition to our rather limited armamentarium of effective gastrointestinal prokinetic agents.