title: A controlled trial of erythromycin and UDCA in premature infants during parenteral nutrition in minimizing feeding intolerance and liver function abnormalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of oral erythromycin versus ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment in preventing feeding intolerance and liver function abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, double blind, randomized, controlled trial in which three groups of preterm infants (birth weight <1500 g) were randomized to erythromycin (12.5 mg kg(-1) per day), UDCA (5 mg kg(-1) every 6 h) or placebo treatment. During the period 352 infants were admitted to our unit of which 75 infants whose parents accepted participation were enrolled in the study. Full enteral feeding or intestinal failure-associated liver disease was considered as the primary outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Time to achieve full feeding after beginning the treatment was significantly shorter in the erythromycin group (P=0.014). γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase levels in the placebo group were significantly higher than in the intervention groups (P=0.001). GTT level was slightly lower in UDCA groups than erythromycin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral erythromycin was most effective in facilitating enteral feeding and UDCA was most effective in preventing cholestasis in very low birth weight infants. Prophylactic usage of UDCA could be considered in infants with prolonged parenteral nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity and Teaching Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drtuling@yahoo.com.tr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gokmen
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Oguz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bozdag
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erdeve
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uras
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dilmen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004917:Erythromycin; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid