J. Curry, T. Lander, M. Stringer
May 1, 2001
Citations
1
Influential Citations
65
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Abstract
Erythromycin has been used as an antibiotic for more than four decades, but only in the last 10 years have other therapeutic benefits of this agent been exploited. Animal and human studies have demonstrated a prokinetic effect on the gastrointestinal tract at sub‐antimicrobial doses (typically a quarter or less of the antibiotic dose). A limited number of studies have been performed in children to investigate this action. A review of this literature is particularly pertinent given the frequency of clinical problems related to gastrointestinal dysmotility in children and the limited availability of prokinetic agents in paediatric practice, compounded by the recent withdrawal of cisapride.