A trial of glucagon in the treatment of painful biliary tract disease.

Seventy-one patients with a clinical diagnosis of painful biliary tract disease have been entered into a double-blind trial of glucagon. Twenty-eight were excluded as gallstones were not proved: of the remainder, 21 patients received glucagon and 22 placebo. Glucagon-treated patients were pain free 14.26 h (+/- 2.77 s.e.m.) after commencing treatment compared to 29.14 h (+/- 6.01 s.e.m.) for the placebo group (P less than 0.05). Tenderness in the right hypochondrium showed a significant improvement when assessed at 12 h (P less than 0.02) and 24 h (P less than 0.1) for those given glucagon. A significant difference in blood glucose levels was seen between the two groups (P less than 0.05). No serious side effects were observed. Glucagon relieves the pain and tenderness associated with painful biliary tract disease more effectively than conventional therapy.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes