Effect of Short-Term Cimetidine Administration on Fecal Bile Acid Losses in Cystic Fibrosis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Eight children with cystic fibrosis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency were voluntarily hospitalized in a clinical research setting so that diet and enzyme supplements could be well controlled for consecutive 72-h balance studies. We previously reported on these patients, as part of a larger study group, because they showed significantly reduced fecal losses of fat and nitrogen at the highest dose of cimetidine added to the otherwise constant regimen. Analysis of specimens from this same study shows a cimetidine-related reduction in fecal bile acid loss. Numerous variables thought to influence fecal bile acid loss were closely controlled and/or measured in this clinical study setting. In order to potentially learn more about this complex phenomenon, we carried out a stepwise regression analysis of the data which indicated that half of the variance in fecal bile acid loss is still unaccounted for by the five "independent" variables tested in the regression. However, in this variance analysis system cimetidine assumes a larger relative role in modulating bile acid loss than it does in fecal losses of fat and nitrogen.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: