Stimulation of gallbladder emptying by intravenous lipids.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have dealt with the effect of i.v. administration of lipids on gallbladder emptying, and the results have been conflicting.


METHODS
Five healthy volunteers, three women and two men, aged 26 to 54 years, (mean, 29 years) were studied. Gallbladder emptying was assessed by means of real-time ultrasonography.


RESULTS
In all subjects, the infusion of a 10% fat emulsion (Intralipid; Kabivitrum, Stockholm) over 3 hours caused a reduction in gallbladder volume. This effect was statistically significant at about 80 minutes of lipid infusion and became progressively more marked as the infusion progressed, reaching a reduction of approximately 30% during the third hour of infusion. A significant relationship (p < .001) was found between the concentration of serum triglycerides and the degree of gallbladder volume decrease. In control studies, infusion of physiologic saline containing glycerol, the excipient of intralipid, caused no significant changes in gallbladder volume.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that i.v. infusion of lipids is able to stimulate significantly contraction of human gallbladder.
Priori
P
P
Division of Internal Medicine, Simiani Hospital, Loiano, Bologna, Italy.
Pezzilli
R
R
Panuccio
D
D
Nardi
R
R
Gullo
L
L
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides