Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonist for Treatment of Severe Diabetic Diarrhea

Diabetic diarrhea is a troublesome gastrointestinal complication of diabetes. This condition persists for several weeks to months, and it frequently accompanies fecal incontinence. The cause of diabetic diarrhea is not fully understood, but autonomic neuropathy is thought to be an underlying mechanism (1). Parenteral somatostatin analog octreotide has been shown to be useful in the treatment of severe long-standing diabetic diarrhea (1). Selective serotonin 5-hydroxy tryptamine type 3 (HT3) receptor antagonist, which was developed as an antiemetic in cancer chemotherapy, prolongs colonic transit, inhibits small bowel secretion, and decreases colonic compliance (2). Here, we report the underlying mechanism of ramosetron (2 …