Anorexia and the effect of internal biliary drainage on food intake in patients with obstructive jaundice.
BACKGROUND
Anorexia is a frequent finding in patients with biliary obstruction (BO). This study investigates the role of biochemical and hormonal factors in the pathogenesis of reduced food intake in BO and the effects of internal biliary drainage.


METHODS
Sixty-two patients with BO were prospectively investigated. Transaminases, amylase, cholecystokinin, secretin, bile acids, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and endotoxin were determined at admission. Caloric intake was quantified by a controlled diet. In a subset of 27 patients, studies were repeated after internal biliary drainage.


RESULTS
Sixty-six percent of patients had spontaneous food intakes below the estimated caloric requirements. Serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and cholecystokinin plasma levels were independent predictor factors for calorie intake (p = 0.0001). After internal biliary drainage, cholestasis parameters and cholecystokinin concentrations decreased significantly; this was associated with an improvement of spontaneous food intake in both benign and malignant biliary obstruction (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Decreased food intake in BO was associated with the degree of obstruction and with increased cholecystokinin plasma levels. Biliary drainage improved biochemical and food intake derangements.
Padillo
F J
FJ
Department of Surgery, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.
Andicoberry
B
B
Naranjo
A
A
Miño
G
G
Pera
C
C
Sitges-Serra
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000855:Anorexia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012633:Secretin / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D004731:Endotoxins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012633:Secretin; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D000637:Transaminases; D000681:Amylases; D001663:Bilirubin