Effect of the calcium antagonist [verapamil] on some hepatic bile constituents and pH

ABSTRACT

Twenty patients with chronic cholecystitis were submitted to cholecystectomy and the common bile duct was cannulated. On the second postoperative day hepatic bile was collected for 30 minutes, after which 5 mg verapamil was injected i.v. and 5 minutes later another 30 minutes sample was taken. Both samples were analyzed for their content of phospholipids, bilirubin, cholesterol, sodium and potassium content and pH. It was found that sodium and potassium were significantly changed. The pH also showed a significant change towards the alkaline side. This may be due to decreased hepatic bile flow