Bile viscosity in patients with biliary drainage. Effect of co-trimoxazole and N-acetylcysteine and role in stent clogging.

Coene P-PLO, Groen AK, Davids PHP, Hardman M, Tytgat GNJ, Huibregtse K. Bile viscosity in patients with biliary drainage. Effect of co-trimoxazole and N-acetylcysteine and role in stent clogging. Scand J Gastroenterol 1994;29:757-763.Background: The main disadvantage of endoscopic insertion of an endoprosthesis is the tendency of the stent to clog after a few months. In this study we determined the role of bile viscosity in stent clogging. Methods: Sixty patients were stented with 10 Fr 11-cm stents. The stents were electively removed after 2 months, and a bile sample was obtained simultaneously. Bile viscosity was measured with a coaxial rotation viscometer. The influence of treatment with antibiotics and a mucolytic agent on viscosity was assessed in a randomized trial. Results: Bile viscosity correlated significantly with DNA and total protein concentration. After treatment with either iV-acetylcysteine or co-trimoxazole a lower mean value of the viscosity was observed, but this was not statistically s...