EFFECT OF CIMETIDINE ON MALDIGESTION IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Patients (10) (6-27 yr of age) who had severe pancreatic exocrine insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis were studied to determine whether cimetidine would improve dietary fat and N absorption. When a constant diet was consumed and oral pancreatic enzymes were administered, the addition of cimetidine (150 or 200 mg orally 1/2 h before meals) significantly reduced fecal fat excretion from 25.3 .+-. 2.9 to 17.3 .+-. 2.1 g/24 h and fecal N excretion from 4.5 .+-. 0.6 to 3.4 .+-. 0.5 g 24 h (P < 0.05). Lower cimetidine doses resulted in less significant reductions of steatorrhea and azotorrhea. Cimetidine may be a useful adjunct to oral pancreatic enzyme therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis who continue to have steatorrhea and azotorrhea with enzyme therapy alone.