IV CHENODEOXYCHOLATE PREVENTS CALCIUM BILIRUBINATE GALLSTONES DURING TOTAL PARENTERAL-NUTRITION IN THE PRAIRIE DOG

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether IV chen odeoxycholate (CDC) could prevent total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-ass ociated pigmented gallstones in the prairie dog. Methods: Twelve prair ie dogs were divided into two equal groups, each receiving an identica l TPN regimen. Each animal received 92 kcal/d with 61% of the calories horn carbohydrate. The total volume of infusate delivered to each ani mal was 59 mL/d. Animals in one group, termed the TPN + CDC group, rec eived a daily bolus injection of CDC at a dose of 15 mg/kg. Prairie do gs in the second group, termed the TPN group, received water (vehicle carrier) 1 ml/kg/d. The TPN and TPN + CDC groups received TPN for 40.3 +/- 1.3 and 42.5 +/- 0.6 days, respectively. Results: There was no st atistical difference in the initial and final weights between the two groups. None of the TPN + CDC-treated animals had gallstones or calciu m bilirubinate crystals. In contrast, all of the TPN-treated animals h ad calcium bilirubinate crystals (p = .002), and five of six had macro scopic black pigmented gallstones (p = .015). Cholesterol crystals wer e not observed in either group of animals. The amount of biliary bilir ubin and ionized calcium was significantly greater in the TPN group (b oth p < .001); however, both groups had a similar total biliary calciu m concentration. Conclusion: IV CDC is effective in preventing TPN-ass ociated gallstones in the prairie dog.