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Previous Volume 350:1261-1263 March 18, 2004 Number 12 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: I commend Mertz for his comprehensive review of irritable bowel syndrome (Nov. 27 issue).¹ However, some comments are warranted. Mertz refers to tegaserod as "a drug similar to the prokinetic agent cisapride," but in fact it is structurally and pharmacologically distinct from cisapride (Table 1). Tegaserod represents a new class of drug (aminoguanidine indoles) and is a partial 5-hydroxytryptamine₄ (5-HT₄)–receptor agonist. Cisapride is a substituted benzamide that acts as a 5-HT₄–receptor agonist and a 5-HT₃–receptor antagonist. Tegaserod does not affect cardiac conduction.²

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 1. Structural and Pharmacologic Characteristics of Tegaserod and Cisapride.

 
Stratifying treatment . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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