title: Ursodeoxycholic acid treatment in preterm infants: a pilot study for the prevention of cholestasis associated with total parenteral nutrition.
abstract: In a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was evaluated in preterm infants, in terms of its potential impact on fat absorption, advancement of enteral feeding, development of cholestasis, growth, nutritional status, and metabolic status. Although fecal fat excretion slightly decreased and achievement of full enteral feeding was earlier in the UDCA group, these differences were not significant. Interestingly, whereas serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity increased during the parenteral nutrition period in the placebo group, we observed a constant and significant decrease in the UDCA group. This observation warrants further investigation to determine the utility of prophylactic UDCA in preventing cholestasis in infants with prolonged parenteral nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Center for Infant Nutrition, Department of Neonatology, Macedonio Melloni Hospital, Milan, Italy. asertac@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Sertac
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslanoglu
authors.forename: Guido E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: Horst-Dietmar
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Tauschel
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boehm
mesh_terms: D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase