Conditions: Healthy
Keywords: Healthy Men Women No known gastrointestinal disease Aged between 18-70 years
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 40
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has proven to be a valuable imaging technique for suspected small bowel disease. This technique depends, in part, on adequate distension of the small bowel. This is accomplished by administering large volumes of a non-absorbable oral contrast material prior to the examination, which typically produces excellent distension of the distal small bowel and stomach, but poor distension of the proximal small bowel. Erythromycin is a common antibiotic that is known to promote stomach emptying and is used to treat diabetics with gastroparesis (poor stomach emptying.) The hypothesis of this study was that erythromycin will increase gastric emptying and hence improve small and large intestinal distention during MRI.

Detailed description:
Gastric, small, and large intestinal volumes were assessed with MRI after ingestion of a low concentration of barium sulfate solution (1350 mL) and randomization to erythromycin 200 mg i.v.) or placebo in 40 healthy volunteers. Magnetic Resonance Images of the abdomen were acquired with a torso phased array coil and a 1.5 tesla magnet.

Arms:
arm 1: Erythromycin 200 mg i.v. suspension, Barium Sulfate Solution, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging arm 2: Matching placebo i.v. suspension, Barium Sulfate Solution, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Interventions: intervention 1: Erythromycin intervention 2: Placebo intervention 3: Magnetic Resonance Imaging intervention 4: Barium Sulfate Solution
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 200 mg suspension intervention 2: 200 mg suspension intervention 3: An MR enterography procedure uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to obtain detailed images of the small bowel. intervention 4: Participants will be given a low concentration of barium sulfate solution (1350 mL) prior to the MRI procedure. Barium sulfate is a radiopaque agent. Radiopaque agents are used to help diagnose certain medical problems. Since radiopaque agents are opaque to (block) x-rays, the areas of the body in which they are localized will appear white on the x-ray film. This creates the needed distinction, or contrast, between one organ and other tissues. The contrast will help the doctor see any special conditions that may exist in that organ or part of the body.

Protocol document: