We have investigated prospectively the effect of cisapride on dysfunctional upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, abdominal fullness, early satiety and anorexia in patients with chronic liver diseases. Fifty-six patients were given clsapride 2.5 mg tid for 4 weeks. If the symptoms improved, the same dosage of cisapride was given an additional 4 weeks. If there was no symptomatic improvement, the dosage was increased to 5 mg tid for the next 4 weeks. The average of total symptom scores before the treatment and at 4th and 8th week after the treatment were 5.1 +- 1.6, 1.9 +- 1.8 and 1.6 +- 1.8 respectively. There was statistically significant improvement in the total symptom scores after the treatment (p 0.05). The score of each symptoms except vomiting improved significantly after the treatment. In 12 patients, the dosage of cisapride was increased but there was no improvement in the average symptom score even after the dose increment. The side effects were abdominal pain in 3 patients, epiga.;tric soreness, erythematous skin rash, facial edema and dizziness in each patient respectively. Cisapride did not cause abnormalities in laboratory data such as LFT, CBC and urinalysis. In conclusion, cisapride was effective and safe in relievinp dysfuncticinal upper and lower gastrointestinal symptomos in patients with chronic liver diseases.