title: Efficacy and safety of long-term phenobarbital therapy of familial cholestasis.
abstract: Two brothers with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis were followed during four years of phenobarbital therapy to assess its long-term safety and efficacy. Effects attributable to phenobarbital included sustained relief of pruritus, lowering of serum bilirubin levels, and enhanced hepatic excretion of 131I-rose bengal; serum bile acid levels were only transiently decreased. Two brief interruptions in therapy resulted in symptomatic deterioration. Phenobarbital did not retard growth nor impede the response to vitamin D therapy of concomitant rickets.
mesh_terms: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002118:Calcium; D010634:Phenobarbital