Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prucalopride: For functional constipation only?

  • Review
  • Published:
Techniques in Coloproctology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Prucalopride is a new prokinetic agent, recently available in Europe for the treatment of functional constipation in adults in whom treatment with laxatives failed to provide adequate relief. However, due to its intrinsic properties (highly selective agonist activity and high affinity for 5-HT4 receptors, neuroprotection), this drug has shown the potential to be used in other pathologic conditions, in and outside of the gastrointestinal tract. We performed a systematic review of the evidence supporting these possible alternative uses of prucalopride. Further studies in this area are, however, mandatory.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Shin A, Camilleri M, Kolar G, Erwin P, West CP, Murad MH (2014) Systematic review with meta-analysis: highly selective 5-HT4 agonists (prucalopride, velusetrag or naronapride) in chronic constipation. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 39:239–253

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Dolgin E (2012) Drug pipeline is flush with new options for chronic constipation. Nat Med 18:1308–1309

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bassotti G, Gambaccini D, Bellini M (2016) Prucalopride succinate for the treatment of chronic constipation: an update and future directions. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 10:291–300

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Prins NH, van Der Grijn A, Lefebvre RA, Akkermans LM, Schuurkes JA (2001) 5-HT(4) receptors mediating enhancement of contractility in canine stomach; an in vitro and in vivo study. Br J Pharmacol 132:1941–1947

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Prins NH, Akkermans LM, Lefebvre RA, Schuurkes JA (2001) Characterization of the receptors involved in the 5-HT-induced excitation of canine antral longitudinal muscle. Br J Pharmacol 134:1351–1359

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Leclere PG, Lefebvre RA (2002) Presynaptic modulation of cholinergic neurotransmission in the human proximal stomach. Br J Pharmacol 135:135–142

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Broad J, Hughes F, Chin-Aleong J, Sifrim D, Sanger GJ (2014) Regionally dependent neuromuscular functions of motilin and 5-HT4 receptors in human isolated esophageal body and gastric fundus. Neurogastroenterol Motil 26:1311–1322

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kessing BF, Smout AJ, Bennink RJ, Kraaijpoel N, Oors JM, Bredenoord AJ (2014) Prucalopride decreases esophageal acid exposure and accelerates gastric emptying in healthy subjects. Neurogastroenterol Motil 26:1079–1086

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Nennstiel S, Bajbouj M, Schmid RM, Becker V (2014) Prucalopride reduces the number of reflux episodes and improves subjective symptoms in gastroesophageal reflux disease: a case series. J Med Case Rep 8:34

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Boeckxstaens GE, Bartelsman JFWM, Lauwers L, Tytgat GNJ (2002) Treatment of GI dysmotility in scleroderma with the new enterokinetic agent prucalopride. Am J Gastroenterol 97:194–197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sloots CE, Rykx A, Cools M, Kerstens R, De Pauw M (2010) Efficacy and safety of prucalopride in patients with chronic non cancer pain suffering from opioid-induced constipation. Dig Dis Sci 55:2912–2921

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Krogh K, Jensen MB, Gandrup P et al (2002) Efficacy and tolerability of prucalopride in patients with constipation due to spinal cord injury. Scand J Gastroenterol 37:431–436

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dagtekin O (2012) Prucalopride in a case of severe opioid induced constipation. Minerva Anestesiol 78:513–514

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. D’Hooghe B, Guillaum D (1999) Treatment of constipation in multiple sclerosis patients: pilot study with the novel enterokinetic prucalopride. Neurogastroenterol Motil 11:A256

    Google Scholar 

  15. De Winter BY, Boeckxstaens GE, De Man JG et al (1999) Effect of different prokinetic agents and a novel enterokinetic agent on postoperative ileus in rats. Gut 45:713–718

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Galandiuk S, Beyens G, Ausma J (2008) Evaluation of the efficacy safety and tolerability of prucalopride (Resolor (R)) given subcutaneously in patients undergoing elective partial colectomies. Gastroenterology 134:A138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Gong J, Xie Z, Zhang T et al (2016) Randomised clinical trial: prucalopride, a colonic pro-motility agent, reduces the duration of post-operative ileus after elective gastrointestinal surgery. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 43:778–789

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Giglio MC, Luglio G, Tarquini R, Cerbone D, Bucci P, Bucci L (2014) Role of prucalopride in treatment of chronic constipation and recurrent functional obstruction in a patient with Steinert myotonic dystrophy. J Clin Gastroenterol 49:85–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Emmanuel AV, Kamm MA, Roy AJ, Kerstens R, Vandeplassche L (2012) Randomised clinical trial: the efficacy of prucalopride in patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction—a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, multiple n = 1 study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 35:48–55

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Bouras EP, Camilleri M, Burton DD, Thomforde G, McKinzie S, Zinsmeister AR (2001) Prucalopride accelerates gastrointestinal and colonic transit in patients with constipation without a rectal evacuation disorder. Gastroenterology 120:354–360

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Oustamanolakis P, Tack J (2012) Prucalopride for chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 35:398–399

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Smart CJ, Ramesh AN (2012) The successful treatment of acute refractory pseudo-obstruction with prucalopride. Colorectal Dis 14:e508

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Broad J, Kung VW, Boundouki G et al (2013) Cholinergic interactions between donepezil and prucalopride in human colon: potential to treat severe intestinal dysmotility. Br J Pharmacol 170:1253–1261

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Bianco F, Bonora E, Natarajan D et al (2016) Prucalopride exerts neuroprotection in human enteric neurons. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00036.2016

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gershon MD, Liu MT (2007) Serotonin and neuroprotection in functional bowel disorders. Neurogastroenterol Motil 19(Suppl 2):19–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Zeinstra EM, Wilczak N, Wilschut JC et al (2006) 5HT4 agonists inhibit interferon-γ-induced MHC class II and B7 costimulatory molecules expression on cultured astrocytes. J Neuroimmunol 179:191–195

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Cachard-Chastel M, Lezoualc’h F, Dewachter I et al (2007) 5-HT4 receptor agonists increase sAPPa levels in the cortex and hippocampus of male C57BL/6j mice. Br J Pharmacol 150:883–892

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Cachard-Chastel M, Deverse S, Sicsic S et al (2008) Prucalopride and donepezil act synergistically to reverse scopolamine-induced memory deficit in C57Bl/6j mice. Behav Brain Res 187:455–461

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Navailles S, Di Giovanni G, De Deurwaerdère P (2015) The 5-HT4 agonist prucalopride stimulates L-DOPA-induced dopamine release in restricted brain regions of the hemiparkinsonian rat in vivo. CNS Neurosci Ther 21:745–747

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    M. Bellini & D. Gambaccini

  2. Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia Medical School, Piazza Lucio Severi, 1, 06132, San Sisto (Perugia), Italy

    G. Bassotti

Authors
  1. M. Bellini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Gambaccini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Bassotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Bassotti.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Gabrio Bassotti and Massimo Bellini have received lecture fees from Shire Pharmaceutical for educational symposia; Dario Gambaccini declares no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

For this type of study ethical approval is not necessary.

Informed consent

For this type of article, informed consent is not required.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bellini, M., Gambaccini, D. & Bassotti, G. Prucalopride: For functional constipation only?. Tech Coloproctol 20, 433–436 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-016-1477-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-016-1477-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation