Plasma cholecystokinin levels and gallbladder volumes after proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

Background. The colon and rectum contain regulatory peptides in mucosal endocrine cells, which suggests a hormonal role. In animal studies colectomy leads to increased plasma levels of cholecystokinin. Little is known about the effects of proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis on the release of cholecystokinin in human beings. Therefore we studied the effects of this procedure on fasting, postprandial, and bombesin-stimulated plasma cholecystokinin levels and gallbladder volumes. Methods. Ten patients who had undergone protocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and 12 healthy volunteers participated in the study. Fasting and postprandial plasma cholecystokinin levels and gallbladder volumes were studied for 3 hours at 15-minute intervals. In a second experiment plasma cholecystokinin levels were measured before and during intravenous administration of bombesin in six patients with ileal pouch and five healthy volunteers. Results. Fasting plasma cholecystokinin levels were higher (p