Effect of oral clarithromycin on gall-bladder motility in normal subjects and those with gall-stones.
BACKGROUND
Motilin receptor stimulation with erythromycin has been shown to have a prokinetic effect on gall-bladder motility in human beings.


OBJECTIVE
To find out whether oral clarithromycin has similar prokinetic activity to erythromycin on fasting and postprandial gall-bladder emptying in normal humans and those with gall-stone disease.


METHODS
In a blinded two-way crossover study clarithromycin 500 mg and a placebo were administered to 10 normal subjects and 10 subjects with gall-stone disease. Gall-bladder volumes were assessed in the fasting and postprandial state.


RESULTS
Fasting volumes were significantly less following clarithromycin administration in both normal subjects and subjects with gall-stones compared with placebo (12.1 +/- 1.8 mL vs. 17.8 +/- 2.0 mL, P < 0.05 and 16.7 +/- 2 mL vs. 26.8 +/- 7.2 mL, P < 0.02, mean +/- S.E.M). Postprandial volumes were also significantly less following clarithromycin administration. Ejection fraction significantly increased following clarithromycin in both normal subjects (66 +/- 5.8% vs. 37 +/- 5.9%, P = 0.02) and subjects with gall-stones (45 +/- 3.2 vs. 20 +/- 1.6%, P < 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Clarithromycin enhances both fasting and postprandial gall-bladder contraction in normal humans and also in those with gall-stone disease.
Sengupta
S
S
Department of Medicine and Gastroenterology, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, Ireland.
Modak
P
P
McCauley
N
N
O'Donnell
L J D
LJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000187:drug effects*; D042882:Gallstones / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin