Effect of treatment with a bile-sequestering agent (Secholex) on intestinal absorption, duodenal bile acids, and...

Four female and five male patients (mean age 26 years) with hyperlipoproteinaemia type II A were treated with an anion exchange gel (Secholex) 9 g/day for 3 months and 15 g/day for 9 months. After these 12 months clofibrate 1.5 g/day was added to the therapy in 6 patients, whereas 2 patients continued with the resin alone for another 6 months, and one was withdrawn from the trial because of pregnancy. During the first year plasma cholesterol decreased averagely 18% from a mean pretreatment value of 461 mg/100 ml. Dosis of 9 g/day seemed to be as efficient as 15 g/day. When clofibrate was added, a further decrease of plasma cholesterol by 6% was observed, and the levels of triglycerides were reduced. Significantly increased concentrations of bile acids and a rise in the glycine/taurine ratio in duodenal aspirate were caused by the resin. On combined treatment the concentration of bile acids decreased to the pretreatment values, whereas the glycine/taurine ratio remained unchanged. During the trial slight transient changes in serum folic acid, fasting insulin, calcium, alkaline phosphatases, and vitamin B 12-absorption occurred. No changes in serum vitamin A, vitamin-K-dependent clotting factors, serum gastrin, gastric acid output, the absorption of glucose and iron, and faecal excretion of fat were observed. Serum insulin 30 and 60 minutes after an oral glucose loading decreased in the patients on combined treatment, whereas the insulin response remained normal in patients taking Secholex alone. Liver function tests and creatinine were unchanged during the trial. Apart from transient abdominal discomfort in two patients, no side-effects were discovered. The patients found the gel palatable.