title: Relief of jaundice by 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid in patients with recurrent gastric cancer.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid on liver function and bile production in patients with recurrent gastric cancer and jaundice. Thirteen patients were studied for liver function and hyperbilirubinaemia, and six patients were studied for bile production retrospectively, who were treated with 5-FU [700 mg m(-2)] and folinic acid [20 mg m(-2)] for 4 days. Serum total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations all improved with treatment (P<0.0001), and bile production increased significantly (P<0.0001) following treatment. 5-FU and folinic acid can significantly improve jaundice and liver function, and promote bile production. It is possible that 5-FU and folinic acid may become a new method for the relief of jaundice in patients with gastrointestinal tract malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kajiyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsurumaru
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Udagawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akiyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007565:Jaundice / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil