Effect ofthe quarternary ammoniumcompound trospium chloride on 24hourjejunal motility in healthy sub jects

Thisstudyaimedtorecord 24hourjejunal motility inhealthy ambulant subjects andto analyse changes inmotility caused bytheoral administration ofananticholinergic agent, the quarternary ammoniumcompound, trospium chloride. Inaplacebo-controlied, double blind crossover trial, 24hourjejunal motility was recorded in12healthy volunteers, aged25(2130)years, using adigital data logger connected totwostrain-gauge transducers mounted 20 cm apart inaflexible nasojejunal catheter. A computer program wasdeveloped todetermine contraction parameters. Trospium chloride (15mgoraily thrice daily) prolonged theduration ofirregular contractile activity after meals (p<002) andreduced its contraction frequency andamplitude (p<0-001). Inthe fasting state, thecycle length ofthemigrating motorcomplex wasprolonged (p<001) byan extended phaseI(p<0025). PhaseIIIwas shortened (p<0-005) andshoweda slower aboral migration velocity (p<0005). Clustered contractions werelessfrequent during postprandial andfasting periods (p<0-01). Runsof clustered contractions werecompletely absent withtrospium chloride. Digital manometry wasuseful forlong termrecordings ofjejunal motility andenabled themotoreffects ofan anticholinergic agent tobecharacterised in ambulant subjects. (Gut 1994; 35:27-33)