EFFECT OF ORAL LACTULOSE ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE IN EXPERIMENTAL EXTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS

The role of lactulose in the prevention of renal failure in rats with obstructive jaundice has been evaluated in a prospective trial. 50 mal e Wistar rats were divided into five groups: (1) Control group (n = 10 ), (2) Extrahepatic cholestasis, renal ischaemia group (n = 10), (3) E xtrahepatic cholestasis, renal ischaemia, oral bile salt group (n = 10 ), (4) Extrahepatic cholestasis, renal ischaemia, gut sterilisation gr oup (n = 10) and (5) Extrahepatic cholestasis, renal ischaemia, oral l actulose group (n = 10). Biochemical, histopathological and microbiolo gical findings are discussed. Postoperative deterioration of renal his topathology was lower in the oral. lactulose group than in the second, third, and fourth groups. Protection by lactulose was superior to tha t of other agents used.