A long-term study of acotiamide in patients with functional dyspepsia: results from an open-label phase III trial in Japan on efficacy, safety and pattern of administration

Hyperprolactinemia in Functional Dyspepsia: The Entangled Domperidone Link

The commonest medications prescribed in functional dyspepsia are prokinetic agents, specifically domperidone. However, its administration at times elevates serum prolactin levels, which can lead to pathological hyperprolactinemia. The present study investigated the effect of 28 days of 30 mg domperidone therapy on prolactinemia in functional dyspepsia patients. We recruited 97 patients (60 men and 37 women, aged 18-80 years) who had functional dyspepsia diagnosed as per the Rome IV criteria. After taking a preliminary clinical history, we measured and compared serum prolactin levels at day 'zero' and day 'twenty-eight'. We found increased prolactin levels from day '0' to day '28' after treatment with domperidone in functional dyspepsia patients, specifically in male participants aged less than 40 years, who are married and belong to middle socioeconomic status. The most common functional dyspepsia symptom found was pain in the epigastric region. To conclude, our pragmatic domperidone-induced-hyperprolactinemia link warrants this side effect to be robustly taken into account while treating functional dyspepsia patients with domperidone.

Electroacupuncture restores intestinal mucosal barrier through TLR4/NF-κB p65 pathway in functional dyspepsia-like rats

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder with high morbidity. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been applied to treat FD for a long time. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of EA and its mechanism about intestinal mucosal barrier in rodent model of FD. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group and the model group. Then, the rats in model group were established to the FD model by multifactor interventions. In Experiment 1, qualified FD-like rats were randomly divided into three groups: FD, EA, and acupuncture (AP) groups. The interventions of EA and AP lasted 14 days, food intake, and body weight were recorded every 5 days. In Experiment 2, qualified FD-like rats were randomly divided into five groups: FD, EA, AP, EA + TAK242, and TAK242 groups. The interventions of EA and AP lasted 14 days, while TAK242 injection continued for 6 days. The rats were sacrificed for the measurement of serum Interleukin- 6 (IL-6) and Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) assayed by ELISA. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of TLR4, Myd88, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, TRAF6, ZO-1, and occludin in the duodenum. The transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure of intestinal epithelial cells. Compared with the rats in the group FD, the rats in EA group had significantly increase of body weight, food intake, and protein expressions of ZO-1 and occludin, while expressions of TLR4, Myd88, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, TRAF6 in the duodenum and IL-6, and TNF-α in serum were decreased. The EA + TAK242 treatment had similar effects to the EA treatment but with increased potency; compared with EA, AP showed similar but reduced effects. Our data demonstrated that EA is more effective than AP in improving intestine mucosal barrier. The possible mechanisms of EA may involve the TLR4/NF-κB p65 pathway.

[Current status and prospects of using the prokinetic acotiamide in gastroenterology: A review]

Acotiamide is a prokinetic with a novel mechanism of action - an antagonist of muscarinic M1 and M2 receptors and an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Acetylcholine is the central mediator of the tone of the muscular components of the gastrointestinal tract, increasing its motor activity. Blockade of presynaptic M1 and M2 receptors neutralizes the inhibitory effect of the feedback mechanism on the acetylcholine synthesis, while inhibition of acetylcholinesterase in the synaptic cleft reduces the acetylcholine degradation. Currently, the clinical efficacy of acotiamide in the population of patients with functional dyspepsia is demonstrated in more than 10 clinical studies in different regions of the world, demonstrating a reduction of the symptoms of the disease during treatment with this agent and an improvement in the quality of life of patients. In addition, the combination of acotiamide with proton pump inhibitors optimizes the management of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Functional Dyspepsia: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches

Functional dyspepsia is a common functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder of gastroduodenal origin, diagnosed clinically in the presence of prototypical symptoms of epigastric pain and meal-related symptoms, and without structural explanation. The most recent diagnostic criteria provide for two functional dyspepsia subtypes, epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) and post-prandial distress syndrome (PDS) based on the predominant symptom pattern. The evaluation of dyspepsia should keep laboratory, imaging, and invasive testing to a minimum, as extensive or repetitive investigations are of rather low diagnostic yield in the absence of localizing symptoms or alarm features. Factors with etiopathologic relationships to functional dyspepsia include micro-inflammation, GI infections, abnormalities of gastroduodenal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, disturbances along the brain-gut axis, and psychological factors; all of these causative mechanisms have potential to partially explain symptoms in some functional dyspepsia patients, thus providing a rationale for the efficacy of a diversity of therapeutic approaches to functional dyspepsia. Management of dyspepsia symptoms relies upon both pharmacologic treatments and non-pharmacologic approaches, including psychological and complementary interventions. The evidence in support of established functional dyspepsia therapies is reviewed, and forms the basis for an effective functional dyspepsia treatment strategy emphasizing the patient's current symptom severity, pattern, and impact on the function and quality of life of the individual.

Recent Advances in the Definition and Management of Functional Dyspepsia

In 2016, the Rome criteria were updated as Rome IV, and only minor changes were introduced for functional dyspepsia (FD). The major symptoms of FD now include not only postprandial fullness, but also epigastric pain and burning, and early satiation at above the "bothersome" level. Investigations into the effect of meal ingestion on symptom generation have indicated that not only postprandial fullness and early satiety but also epigastric pain and burning sensation and nausea (not vomiting) may increase after meals. Helicobacter pylori infection is considered to be the cause of dyspepsia if successful eradication leads to sustained resolution of symptoms for more than 6 months, and such a condition has been termed H. pylori-associated dyspepsia. Prompt esophagogastroduodenoscopy and H. pylori "test and treat" may be beneficial, especially in regions with a high prevalence of gastric cancer, such as east Asia. In terms of treatment, acotiamide, tandospirone, and rikkunshito are newly listed in Rome IV as treatment options for FD. Clinical studies in the field of FD should be strictly based on the Rome IV criteria until the next Rome V is published in 2026.

Therapeutic strategy for the patients with coexisting gastroesophageal reflux disease and postprandial distress syndrome of functional dyspepsia

Background and Aim

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional dyspepsia (FD) frequently overlap. However, no accepted treatment has yet been established for such patients. This study was conducted to identify an adequate initial treatment for patients with GERD accompanied by the postprandial distress syndrome type of FD (FD‐PDS).

Methods

Of the 150 patients newly diagnosed with GERD who visited our clinic, 53 patients with the typical symptoms of both GERD and FD‐PDS were assessed using the modified frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD and the gastroesophageal reflux and dyspepsia therapeutic efficacy and satisfaction test questionnaires. Of those, 42 patients who completed 4 weeks of treatment were analyzed. We compared the treatment responses between the 21 patients who received proton pump inhibitor (PPI) monotherapy and 21 patients who received a PPI in combination with the prokinetic drug acotiamide.

Results

Assessment of the two questionnaires revealed a marked improvement of both GERD and FD symptom scores after 4 weeks of treatment in both groups. However, there were no significant differences in any GERD or FD symptom scores at baseline, after 4 weeks of treatment and in the symptom score change between the two different treatment groups.

Conclusion

The results of this retrospective study suggest no benefit of PPI‐prokinetic combination versus PPI monotherapy in adult patients with FD‐GERD overlap; therefore, PPI monotherapy could be an adequate initial treatment for such patients.

Influence of acotiamide on 13C-urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori diagnosis

The Helicobacter pylori infection and functional dyspepsia are often coexisted. The effect of acotiamide, a drug for functional dyspepsia, on the result of Helicobacter pylori diagnosis has yet to be studied. We evaluated the influence of acotiamide on the results of Helicobacter pylori diagnosis in the ¹³C-urea breath test. Twenty patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive functional dyspepsia were treated with 100 mg of acotiamide three times a day for two weeks. Changes in ¹³C-urea breath test were investigated before and after administration, and two weeks after administration as the follow-up period. The ¹³C-urea breath test and the medical questionnaire of modified frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease were conducted at every period. Nineteen patients were included for analysis. No patients showed negative in ¹³C-urea breath test at Weeks 2 and 4. On the symptom scale, dyspepsia and total scores decreased from Week 0 to Week 2 and increased from Week 2 to Week 4, and the improvement rates of the dyspepsia score at Week 2 was 63%. In conclusion, we confirmed that acotiamide is unlikely to influence the result of ¹³C-urea breath test and it may improve the symptoms of functional dyspepsia during Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment.

Effects of acotiamide on functional dyspepsia patients with heartburn who failed proton pump inhibitor treatment in Japanese patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study

BACKGROUND

Functional dyspepsia (FD) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) are gastrointestinal disorders that often overlap. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, the effects of adding acotiamide to treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were investigated in FD patients with heartburn who failed PPI treatment, corresponding to PPI-resistant NERD.

METHODS

The subjects included 16 FD patients with heartburn who failed PPI treatment, and they were administered acotiamide or a placebo for 28 days. After suspending medication for 28 days, the trial drug and placebo were crossed over and administered for 28 days. Before the study began and after each administration period, high-resolution impedance manometry (HRiM) was performed, and the modified frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG) questionnaire was administered.

KEY RESULTS

Postprandial fullness in the FD assessment and all modified FSSG items were significantly lower in the acotiamide group than in the placebo group. Esophagogastric junction pressure was significantly higher in the acotiamide group. The distal contractile integral (DCI) pressure and the highest DCI pressure both increased significantly in the acotiamide group. Moreover, in the acotiamide group, the frequency of abnormal primary peristalsis decreased to normal levels; complete bolus transit (CBT), an indicator of esophageal clearance, increased; and CBT time decreased.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Acotiamide was considered to improve upper gastrointestinal functions not only in the stomach but also in the esophagus. Adding acotiamide to PPI therapy appears to improve upper abdominal symptoms in FD patients with heartburn who failed PPI treatment.

The effect of rikkunshito on gastrointestinal symptoms and gastric motor function: The first study in a Belgian functional dyspepsia population

BACKGROUND

Rikkunshito, a traditional Kampo medicine, has shown efficacy to treat functional dyspepsia (FD) in controlled trials in Japan. Its putative benefit for European patients and mechanism of action has not been established.

METHODS

This study examined the effect of rikkunshito on gastric motility and GI symptom perception in FD-PDS patients in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. After a 2-week run-in period, patients received rikkunshito or matching placebo (2.5 g t.i.d.) for 4 weeks, separated by a 4-week washout period. Symptoms were assessed by the Leuven Postprandial Distress Scale (LPDS) diary throughout the study. At baseline and after both treatment arms, intragastric pressure (IGP) was measured to evaluate gastric accommodation and gastric motility. Simultaneously, GI symptoms were scored on a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Validated symptom questionnaires (PAGI-SYM, VSI, DSS, and PHQ) were completed each study visit.

KEY RESULTS

Twenty-three patients completed the study (33 ± 14 years, 22.7 ± 3.22 kg/m² ). Intragastric pressure was numerically, but not significantly, lower after rikkunshito compared with baseline and placebo (P = .14). No differences were found in gastric accommodation, nutrient volume tolerance, and symptoms assessed during IGP measurements. Early satiation and postprandial fullness (daily diary) decreased after rikkunshito compared with baseline (P < .041 for both). Placebo also improved most other symptoms assessed. No significant changes in VSI scores occurred. No adverse reactions occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Rikkunshito did not alter gastric motility. Treatment with rikkunshito improved upper GI symptoms in FD patients but similarly high placebo effects were observed using the LPDS diary, PAGI-SYM, SF-NDI, and DSS scores. Rikkunshito was safe and well-tolerated.

Current and emerging therapeutic options for the management of functional dyspepsia

Introduction: Functional Dyspepsia (FD), defined as chronic symptoms originating from the gastroduodenal region in absence of readily identifiable organic disease, is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. FD is divided into two subgroups: Post-Prandial Distress Syndrome (PDS) or meal-related FD, characterized by postprandial fullness and early satiation, and Epigastric Pain Syndrome (EPS) or meal-unrelated FD, characterized by epigastric pain and burning.Areas covered: This review summarizes the existing and off-label therapeutic options for FD.Expert opinion: The identification of mechanisms, the Rome IV classification, the reduction of PDS/EPS overlap and pictograms for symptom identification allow a better diagnosis and a more targeted treatment choice. Acotiamide, a first-in-class prokinetic agent available only in Japan and India, is the only agent of proven efficacy for FD, but clinicians use acid-suppressive therapy, prokinetics, neuromodulators and herbal therapies for treating FD symptoms. New emerging targets are duodenal low-grade inflammation with eosinophils and duodenal or other modified luminal microbiota.

Review article: treatment options for functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND

Functional dyspepsia, consisting of epigastric pain syndrome and postprandial distress syndrome, is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder. To date, only limited treatment options are available and conflicting results in terms of efficacy have been reported. Consequently, nonpharmacological treatment options are increasingly being explored for functional dyspepsia.

AIM

To provide an overview of current pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options for functional dyspepsia.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted on Pubmed and other sources to identify relevant studies.

RESULTS

Acid suppressive therapy reduced symptoms in 30%-70% of the patients, with higher benefit in epigastric pain syndrome and superior effectiveness for proton pump inhibitors compared to H₂ -antagonists. Prokinetic agents, primarily used to treat postprandial distress syndrome, showed variable efficiency: 59%-81% responder rate for dopamine receptor antagonists, 32%-91% for serotonin-4-receptor agonists and 31%-80% for muscarinic receptor antagonists. H Pylori eradication, recommended in infected patients, was effective in 24%-82%. Refractory symptoms are addressed with neuromodulators. However, their efficacy in functional dyspepsia remains incompletely elucidated, available data showing symptom reduction in 27%-71% of the patients. Regarding herbal agents, peppermint oil reduced symptoms in 66%-91%, rikkunshito in 29%-34% and iberogast in 20%-95%. Lastly, acupuncture, cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnotherapy may help to provide symptom control, but research on their efficacy remains sparse.

CONCLUSIONS

None of the available therapies is effective in the majority of patients without being associated with major side effects. Developing new treatment options is challenging due to the heterogeneity of functional dyspepsia, the lack of readily identified target mechanisms and the poor association between pathophysiological disturbances and symptoms.

Acotiamide affects antral motility, but has no effect on fundic motility, gastric emptying or symptom perception in healthy participants

BACKGROUND

Acotiamide, a prokinetic agent was shown to be efficacious in the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). The exact mechanism of action is incompletely elucidated.

METHODS

This randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study aimed to examine the effect of acotiamide on gastric motility, measured as intragastric pressure, gastric emptying (GE) rate and gastrointestinal (GI) symptom perception in healthy volunteers (HVs). Participants were treated with acotiamide (100 mg tid) and placebo for 3 weeks, separated by a 1-week washout period. A daily symptom diary was collected during both treatments. At the end of each treatment period, GE rate and gastric motility were assessed with a ¹³ C-octanoic acid breath test and high-resolution manometry during nutrient infusion, respectively. GI symptom levels were scored during high-resolution manometry. Data were analyzed using mixed models. The study was registered as NCT03402984.

KEY RESULTS

Twenty HVs (10 female, 25 ± 4.1 years, 22.58 ± 2.73 kg/m² ) participated in the study. There was no difference in GE half time between both treatments (P = 0.92). Acotiamide had no effect on fundic pressures before and after nutrient infusion (P = 0.91). However, postprandial antral pressures remained significantly lower compared to placebo (P = 0.015). There was no significant difference in hunger, satiation and GI symptoms scores assessed during IGP measurement and by the daily diary (P > 0.12 for all).

CONCLUSION

Acotiamide is associated with lower antral pressures after nutrient intake, whereas it has no effect on fundic pressures, GE rate and symptom perceptions in HVs. Studies in FD need to elucidate whether lower antral pressures induced by acotiamide underlie postprandial symptom improvement in FD.

Real-World, Non-Interventional, Observational Study to Evaluate Effectiveness and Tolerability of Acotiamide Hydrochloride Hydrate in Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia

INTRODUCTION

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a highly prevalent condition which reduces patients' quality of life (QoL) and imparts a significant economic burden on the healthcare system. Acotiamide is a novel prokinetic agent useful in treatment of FD, and this study evaluated the effectiveness of acotiamide hydrochloride hydrate in management of FD over a 4-week period in a real-world setting.

METHODS

This study was a prospective, observational, real-world data collection of 132 patients (85 male, 47 female) over 18 years of age diagnosed with FD as per Rome III criteria and treated with acotiamide for 4 weeks at a gastroenterology unit of a medical school in India. Those receiving prokinetics and cholinergic drugs, having any structural lesion on endoscopy, with coexisting irritable bowel syndrome and having heartburn in the past 12 weeks were excluded. Primary outcome was responders based on overall treatment efficacy (OTE) recorded on a seven-point Likert scale for postprandial distress syndrome (PDS; postprandial fullness, early satiety and upper abdominal bloating), epigastric pain syndrome (EPS; upper abdominal pain and upper abdominal discomfort) and associated symptoms (nausea, vomiting and excessive belching) at the end of 2 and 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes were elimination of symptoms of PDS, QoL assessed on the Short-Form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SFNDI) questionnaire and clinical safety after 2 and 4 weeks.

RESULTS

The responder rates with acotiamide at 2 and 4 weeks were 51.5% and 65.9%, respectively, for PDS. Similarly, the responder rates for EPS were 31.8% and 41.7%, respectively, at 2 weeks and 4 weeks. The responder rates for associated symptoms of nausea, vomiting and excessive belching were respectively 18.2%, 17.4% and 16.7% at 2 weeks and 18.2%, 17.4% and 18.2% at 4 weeks. Symptom elimination rates were 9.8% and 18.9% for postprandial fullness, 12.9% and 22.0% for early satiety, and 18.9% and 24.2% for abdominal bloating at 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. Significant improvement (p < 0.0001) in the SFNDI total scores from 25.91 (5.00) at 2 weeks to 23.76 (4.84) at 4 weeks were found at 4 weeks compared to 2 weeks. A total of 7 (5.30%) patients reported mild adverse events which were dizziness (4), headache (3) and nausea (1).

CONCLUSION

The current study demonstrates that treatment with acotiamide improves symptoms, QoL and is well tolerated in Indian patients with FD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trial Registry of India, CTRI/2017/11/010421.

FUNDING

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, India.

Long-term safety and efficacy of acotiamide in functional dyspepsia (postprandial distress syndrome)-results from the European phase 3 open-label safety trial

BACKGROUNDS

Acotiamide is a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for treatment of postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD). This European phase 3 open-label safety trial has been conducted to evaluate the long-term safety of acotiamide and explore the efficacy of acotiamide on PDS symptoms using the validated LPDS, quality of life using SF-36 and SF-NDI, and work productivity using WPAI.

METHODS

FD-PDS patients (defined by ROME III criteria) aged ≥18 years with active PDS symptoms and without predominant overlapping symptoms of epigastric pain syndrome and related disorders were enrolled to receive 100 mg acotiamide three times daily for 1 year. Patients' safety profile and efficacy of acotiamide were monitored.

KEY RESULTS

The majority of patients (81.6%) maintained exposure to acotiamide for >50 weeks, with a mean duration of 320.3 days. No specific clinically significant safety concerns have been shown, with no deaths, treatment-related severe/serious adverse events, or any clinically significant laboratory test results. Although being an open-label trial, acotiamide showed a change in severity larger than the minimum clinically important difference at weeks 1 and 2 for postprandial fullness and early satiation (meal-related symptoms), and showed improvement of quality of life and work productivity from the first measurement (at week 12) up to 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

The long-term safety of acotiamide treatment was confirmed. A clinically important change for PDS symptoms, QoL, and work productivity was suggested; however a controlled trial is required to confirm this hypothetic efficacy of acotiamide. (NCT01973790).

Acotiamide Has No Effects on Esophageal Motor Activity or Esophagogastric Junction Compliance

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The novel prokinetic drug acotiamide is used for treatment of functional dyspepsia. It is still unclear how acotiamide has effects on esophageal motor function. Esophageal peristalsis and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) compliance has an important role for prevention of esophageal mucosal damage caused by gastroesophageal reflux, however, few studies have analyzed the effects of acotiamide on those former activities and none have investigated its effects on EGJ compliance. The aim of our research was to examine the effects of acotiamide on esophageal motility and EGJ compliance.

METHODS

We enrolled 3 gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients as well as 9 healthy volunteers. Using high-resolution manometry, we examined esophageal motor activity parameters, including esophageal body contractions and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure. While, EGJ compliance was evaluated using a functional lumen imaging probe. Following determination of baseline values for esophageal motor activities and EGJ compliance, acotiamide at a standard dose of 300 mg/day was administered for 3 days. All measurements were performed again 2 hours after the last acotiamide administration.

RESULTS

In the healthy volunteers, as compared with the baseline values, acotiamide administration did not significantly change esophageal body contractions and LES pressure. And EGJ distensibility was not significantly changed (distensibility index in 40-mL distension: 3.5 ± 0.4 vs 3.3 ± 0.5 mm²/mmHg). Similarly in the GERD patients, there were no differences in either esophageal motility or EGJ compliance between before and after acotiamide administration (distensibility index in 40-mL distension: 6.2 ± 0.5 vs 6.5 ± 1.1 mm²/mmHg).

CONCLUSION

In both healthy individuals and GERD patients, standard dose acotiamide dose does not have significant effects on esophageal motor activities or EGJ compliance.

Definition, Pathogenesis, and Management of That Cursed Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is an umbrella term used to encompass a number of symptoms thought to originate from the upper gastrointestinal tract. These symptoms are relatively nonspecific; not surprisingly, therefore, a myriad of conditions may present with any one or a combination of these symptoms. Therein lays the clinician's first challenge: detecting the minority who may have a potentially life-threatening disorder, such as gastric cancer, from a population whose symptoms are, for the most part, considered functional in origin. The second challenge lies in the definition and management of those individuals with functional dyspepsia (FD); the major focus of this review. The Rome process has addressed the issue of FD definition and a look back at the evolution of Rome criteria for this disorder illustrates the complexities that have so frustrated us. There has been no shortage of hypotheses to explain symptom pathogenesis in FD; initially focused on gastric sensorimotor dysfunction, these have now strayed well into the duodenum and have come to entertain such factors as immune responses and the microbiome. FD has proven to be an equally challenging area for therapeutics; while the staple approaches of acid suppression and eradication of Helicobacter pylori have some limited efficacy in select populations, strategies to ameliorate symptoms in the majority of sufferers based on presumed pathophysiology have largely foundered. Lacking a validated biomarker(s) FD continues to be an elusive target and is likely to remain so until we can better define the various phenotypes that it must surely contain.

Management of functional dyspepsia: state of the art and emerging therapies

Patients with functional dyspepsia, defined in the 2016 Rome IV criteria as bothersome clinical dyspepsia symptoms, experience markedly reduced quality of life. Several etiologies have been associated with the disorder. In the Rome IV criteria, the brain-gut axis was acknowledged as an important factor in the etiology of functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The distinct subgroups of functional dyspepsia, epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) and postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), are treated differently: acid secretion inhibitors are recommended with patients with EPS, whereas prokinetic drugs as mosapride and acotiamide are recommended for patients with PDS. A previous study has reported that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H₂-blockers were equally effective in functional dyspepsia. A new drug, acotiamide, a muscarinic antagonist and cholinesterase inhibitor, has been shown to improve gastric motility in rodents and dogs, and to reduce PDS symptoms in patients in double-blind multicenter studies. The pharmacological mechanisms of acotiamide remain unknown; whether acotiamide alters gastric emptying and gastric accommodation in patients with functional dyspepsia remains an open question. Other emerging treatment options include Rikkunshito, a herbal medicine that improves gastric emptying through 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2B-mediated pharmacological action, and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Different drugs are needed to accommodate the clinical symptoms and etiology in individual patients.

The Application of the Rome IV Criteria to Functional Esophagogastroduodenal Disorders in Asia

The Rome criteria were amended as Rome IV. For functional esophageal disorders, the exclusion criteria have been more specifically revised based on further understanding of other esophageal disorders, including eosinophilic esophagitis and spastic and hypercontractile motor disorders. Another revised point is the more restrictive definition of gastroesophageal reflux disease, indicating that sensitivity to a physiological reflux burden may be placed more firmly within the functional group. For functional dyspepsia (FD), only minor changes were introduced, mainly to improve specificity. Among the major symptoms of FD, not only postprandial fullness, but also epigastric pain, epigastric burning, and early satiation should be "bothersome." Investigation on the effect of meal ingestion on symptom generation has indicated that not only postprandial fullness and early satiety, but also epigastric pain, epigastric burning sensation and nausea (not vomiting) may increase after meals. Helicobacter pylori infection is considered a possible cause of dyspepsia if successful eradication leads to sustained resolution of symptoms for more than 6 months, and such status can be termed as "H. pylori-associated dyspepsia." Prompt esophagogastroduodenoscopy and H. pylori testing and treatment would be more beneficial, especially in Asia, which has a high prevalence of gastric cancer. Acotiamide, tandospirone, and rikkunshito are the newly listed as treatment options for FD. For further therapeutic development, clinical studies based on the strict Rome IV criteria should be performed.

A double-blind placebo controlled study of acotiamide hydrochloride for efficacy on gastrointestinal motility of patients with functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND

Acotiamide is widely used to improve symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) in multiple large-scale clinical studies, but there are few reports about the drug's mechanism of action. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of acotiamide on gastric accommodation and gastric emptying, gastrointestinal symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in a placebo-controlled study.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Fifty Japanese FD patients were randomly assigned to either placebo (n = 25) or acotiamide 100 mg × 3/day for 2 weeks (n = 25). At baseline and at 2 weeks of treatment, we evaluated the patients' gastric motility using scintigraphy to determine the accommodation and emptying values, gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS), HR-QOL (SF-8), and anxiety and depression scale (HADS).

RESULTS

Four patients failed to complete the medication regimen and were omitted from analysis; data from 24 placebo patients and 22 acotiamide patients were analyzed. Acotiamide significantly increased gastric accommodation compared to the placebo (p = 0.04 vs. p = 0.08; respectively). Acotiamide significantly accelerated gastric emptying (50 % half-emptying time) (p = 0.02 vs. p = 0.59). Acotiamide significantly improved the total GSRS scores compared to placebo (p = 0.0007 vs. p = 0.14). HR-QOL did not differ significantly between the two groups, but acotiamide significantly improved the HADS anxiety score compared to placebo (p = 0.04 vs. p = 0.20).

CONCLUSIONS

Our placebo-controlled study demonstrated that acotiamide significantly increased both gastric accommodation and gastric emptying in Japanese FD patients. Acotiamide also improved the patients' dyspeptic symptoms and anxiety score. Clinical Trials Registry no: UMIN000013544.

Research progress on functional dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is considered to be a series of integrated responses to dysfunction of the brain-gut axis caused by a combination of biological factors and socio-psychological factors. Gastrointestinal motility disorder and mental emotional disorder are important factors leading to the development of FD, and abnormal function of the brain-gut axis is the core mechanism of FD pathogenesis. The high incidence of FD has caused a high degree of attention. In this paper, we will review the latest advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of FD and in its treatment.

Validation of the Leuven Postprandial Distress Scale, a questionnaire for symptom assessment in the functional dyspepsia/postprandial distress syndrome

BACKGROUND

A validated patient-reported outcome instrument is lacking for the functional dyspepsia/postprandial distress syndrome.

AIM

To validate the Leuven Postprandial Distress Scale (LPDS).

METHODS

The LPDS diary, comprising eight symptoms with verbal descriptors rated for severity (0-4), was derived from focus groups and cognitive debriefing. It was used in a 2-week run-in, 8-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial of itopride 100 mg t.d.s. Results in 60 patients, with concealed treatment allocation, were used to analyse LPDS content validity, consistency, reliability and responsiveness. Patients also filled out Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Symptoms (PAGI-SYM), Nepean Dyspepsia Index, overall treatment evaluation and overall symptom severity questionnaires. Construct validity was evaluated by known-group analyses and by correlating LPDS with these additional questionnaires. Minimum Clinically Important Difference was determined from threshold changes in anchor questionnaires.

RESULTS

Symptom patterns and factor analysis identified three cardinal symptoms of postprandial distress syndrome (early satiation, postprandial fullness, upper abdominal bloating), whose mean intensities generate weekly LPDS scores. Known-groups analysis showed large-effect-size differences in LPDS scores (Cohen's d = 2.16). Strong correlations (r > 0.57) between LPDS scores and relevant anchors at baseline indicate good convergent validity. Internal consistency of LPDS was good (α > 0.85) with high inter-item correlations (0.67-0.76), and test-retest reliability (r = 0.85). Changes in LPDS scores were highly convergent with changes in overall treatment evaluation, overall symptom severity and PAGI-SYM (r > 0.52). minimum clinically important difference analysis generated thresholds of 0.4-0.6.

CONCLUSIONS

The Leuven Postprandial Distress Scale, which is supported by the European Medicines Agency, is a sensitive and reliable patient-reported outcome instrument to assess symptoms in the functional dyspepsia/postprandial distress syndrome.

Emerging treatments in neurogastroenterology: Acotiamade, a novel treatment option for functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND

Acotiamide hydrochloride (Z-338) is a new therapeutic agent for functional dyspepsia (FD). In 2013, the use of acotiamide was approved by the Japanese health insurance system.

PURPOSE

The aim of this review is to summarize the present staus of basic and clinical approach to acotiamide for the treatment of functional dyspepsia. The agent inhibits acetylcholinesterase in vitro and enhances muscle motility ex vivo. In phase-II studies, 100 mg three times daily (t.i.d.) was determined to be the optimal dose for the treatment of FD. In phase-III studies, overall treatment efficacy (OTE) was significantly better in the acotiamide group (52.2%) than in the placebo group (34.8%). However, the mechanism of its efficacy needs to be further elucidated. Acotiamide effectively improved FD symptoms, particularly postprandial distress syndrome symptoms, without causing major adverse effects.

Profile of acotiamide in the treatment of functional dyspepsia

Efficacy of acotiamide for improving symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia was shown by several clinical trials. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative Phase III trial conducted in Japan, 100 mg of acotiamide three times a day for 4 weeks was more effective than a placebo for improving symptoms, and quality of life. Acotiamide was well-tolerated treatment, with no significant adverse events. The aim of this review was to summarize the current evidence of the efficacy of acotiamide in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia.

Effects of acotiamide on esophageal motor function and gastroesophageal reflux in healthy volunteers

Background

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been increasing worldwide, with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration the current mainstay therapy for affected individuals. However, PPI efficacy is insufficient especially for non-erosive reflux disease. Although it has been reported that prokinetic drugs improve GERD, their effects on esophageal function remain to be clearly investigated. In the present study, we evaluated the direct effects of acotiamide, a novel prokinetic agent for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, on esophageal motor function and gastroesophageal reflux.

Methods

Ten adult healthy volunteers (average age 24 years, range 20–36 years; 7 males, 3 females) were enrolled. Esophageal body peristaltic contractions and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure with and without acotiamide administration were recorded using high resolution manometry using a cross-over protocol. Total and acidic reflux levels for 24 h and during the postprandial period were also recorded using a multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring system. Data were analyzed blind by one observer.

Results

Acotiamide at a standard dose of 300 mg/day did not significantly stimulate esophageal motor function. Although the frequency of swallows with weak contraction tended to decrease with acotiamide administration, the difference as compared to no administration was not statistically significant. In addition, the drug neither decreased total or postprandial gastroesophageal acid/non-acid reflux events nor accelerated esophageal clearance time.

Conclusions

Acotiamide, a novel gastrointestinal motility modulator, at a standard dose did not significantly affect esophageal motor functions or gastroesophageal reflux in healthy adults. Additional investigations with GERD patients are necessary to elucidate its clinical significance.

Trial registration

This study was registered on 1st August 2013 with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) clinical trials registry, as number: UMIN000011260.

Randomized, Controlled, Multi-center Trial: Comparing the Safety and Efficacy of DA-9701 and Itopride Hydrochloride in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

Background/Aims

Therapies of functional dyspepsia (FD) are limited. DA-9701 is a novel prokinetic agent formulated with Pharbitis semen and Corydalis Tuber. We aimed to assess the efficacy of DA-9701 compared with itopride in FD patients.

Methods

Patients with FD randomly received either itopride 50 mg or DA-9701 30 mg t.i.d after a 2-week baseline period. After 4 weeks of treatment, 2 primary efficacy endpoints were analyzed: the change from baseline in composite score of the 8 dyspeptic symptoms and the overall treatment effect. Impact on patients’ quality of life was assessed using the Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) questionnaire.

Results

We randomly assigned 464 patients with 455 having outcome data. The difference of the composite score change of the 8 symptoms between the 2 groups was 0.62, indicating that DA-9701 was not inferior to itopride. The overall treatment effect response rate was not different between the groups. When responder was defined as ≥ 5 of the 7 Likert scale, responder rates were 37% of DA-9701 and 36% of itopride group. Patients receiving DA-9701 experienced similar mean percentage of days with adequate relief during the 4-week treatment period compared with those receiving itopride (56.8% vs 59.1%). Both drugs increased the NDI score of 5 domains without any difference in change of the NDI score between the groups. The safety profile of both drugs was comparable.

Conclusions

DA-9701 significantly improves symptoms in patients with FD. DA-9701 showed non-inferior efficacy to itopride with comparable safety.

Effect of acotiamide on gastric emptying in healthy adult humans

BACKGROUND

Acotiamide is a first-in-class drug that is used to treat functional dyspepsia (FD). It is considered that acotiamide acts as an antagonist on muscarinic autoreceptors in the enteric nervous system and inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity. We examined the effect of acotiamide on gastric emptying in healthy adult humans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twelve healthy adult males were enrolled in this double-blind crossover study. Acotiamide or placebo was administered orally in the 12 subjects 30 min before ingestion of a nutritional liquid meal (400 Kcal/400 mL). Six of the 12 participants took 100 mg of acotiamide or placebo, and six of the 12 participants took 300 mg of acotiamide or placebo in a double-blind crossover fashion. All subjects underwent measurement of gastric emptying by the (13) C breath test.

RESULTS

After the meal with placebo was ingested, the %dose/h curve ascended. The %dose/h curve after a meal with 100 or 300 mg of acotiamide ascended in an identical manner compared with the results with placebo. No significant differences were observed at any studied time point, and there were no significant changes in gastric emptying parameters (gastric emptying coefficient, t-1/2ex and t-lag ex).

CONCLUSIONS

A single administration of 100 or 300 mg of acotiamide did not affect gastric emptying after a liquid meal in healthy adult humans. Acotiamide has profound effects on restoring delayed gastric emptying and impaired accommodation in patients with FD but may have no effect on gastric emptying in healthy subjects. Such pharmacological actions have not been observed in previous gastroprokinetic studies.

Efficacy and safety of acotiamide for the treatment of functional dyspepsia: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There are no treatments with established efficacy for this disorder so far.

AIM

To systematically review the efficacy of acotiamide in the treatment of patients with FD.

METHODS

We searched main electronic databases through November 2013. RCTs evaluating the efficacy of acotiamide versus placebo in FD patients were included. Pooled risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidential interval (CI) was calculated.

RESULTS

Six publications including seven RCTs were eligible for inclusion. The summary RR of overall improvement of FD symptoms in patients receiving acotiamide versus placebo was 1.29 (95% CI, 1.19-1.40, P < 0.00001; I(2) = 15%). Acotiamide improved the symptoms of patients with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) (RR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.53, P = 0.003; I(2) = 0%), and the summary RR for patients with epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.76-1.11, P = 0.39; I(2) = 0%). Acotiamide showed a significantly beneficial effect on the elimination of some individual FD symptoms compared with placebo. Adverse events were not significantly different between acotiamide and placebo groups. Subgroup analyses suggested that acotiamide 100 mg three times daily (tid) showed consistent efficacy not only for the overall improvement but also for the elimination of some individual symptoms in FD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Acotiamide has the potential to improve the symptoms of patients with FD, particularly of patients with PDS, without major adverse effects. The dosage of acotiamide 100 mg tid might be the appropriate dose in the treatment of FD.

Acotiamide, a novel gastroprokinetic for the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia: postprandial distress syndrome

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a highly prevalent condition with major socioeconomic and healthcare impact. To date, no pharmacological treatment for FD has been approved. The Rome consensus proposed to subdivide FD into postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), characterized by meal-related symptoms and epigastric pain syndrome, characterized by pain and burning. Acotiamide (Z-338 or YM443) is a new drug, developed for the treatment of FD. Acotiamide enhances acetylcholine release from enteric neurons through muscarinic receptor antagonism and acetycholinesterase inhibition, thereby enhancing gastric emptying and gastric accommodation. Acotiamide was evaluated in FD in clinical studies in Europe, Japan and the USA, beneficial effects were observed for the PDS symptoms of postprandial fullness and early satiation, with a dose of 100 mg three-times a day. A 4-week placebo-controlled Phase III study in PDS patients in Japan confirmed efficacy of acotiamide in relieving postprandial fullness, early satiation and upper abdominal bloating.