Dose Response of Intravenous Sincalide(CCK-8) for Gallbladder Emptying

Dose Response of Intravenous Sincalide (CCK-8) for Gallbladder Emptying

This is a clinical research study to establish normal values for the infusion of a synthetic form of the hormone cholecystokinin(CCK-8) for gallbladder emptying. Cholecystokinin is released from the small bowel to stimulate the pancreas and gallbladder to help digest and absorb food. Some people have gallbladder problems and need to be tested with the synthetic cholecystokinin ( Kinevac®, Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.). The aim of this study is to find out how differing amounts and intravenous infusion times of CCK-8 affect gallbladder emptying. The findings in normal subjects will be used to establish normal values that can then be compared with patients with suspected gallbladder disease.

This study enrolled 60 healthy volunteers from four institutions (Johns Hopkins University, Pennsylvania State University, Memorial Health University Medical Center, and Temple University. Subjects had to be healthy men or women 18-65 years old with no gastrointestinal disease as confirmed by initial screening using a modified Mayo Clinic Research Gastrointestinal Disease Screening Questionnaire, and normal results for CBC, metabolic profile, serum amylase and gallbladder ultrasonography. Women could not be enrolled if pregnant.

Subjects had 3 infusion studies at least 2 days apart within 3 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy males and females between ages 18-65 years of age with no gastrointestinal disease as screened by the Mayo Clinic GI Disease Screening Questionnaire
2. Subjects with high probability for compliance and completion of the study
3. Normal liver function tests and amylase
4. Normal ultrasound of the gallbladder

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior GI surgery, excluding appendectomy
2. Surgery within the past 3 months
3. BMI > 35
4. Female of childbearing age who is not practicing birth control and/or is pregnant or lactating. (Confirm with urine pregnancy test)
5. Cardiovascular, endocrine, renal, gastrointestinal, or other chronic disease likely to affect motility. This includes diabetes, renal insufficiency, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome, prior peptic ulcer disease.
6. GI symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, dysphagia, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea.