[Prevalence of gallstones in patients on hemodialysis]

End-stage renal disease affects all organ systems. Nevertheless, frequency of some pathologic conditions does not differ in end-stage renal disease patients in comparison with their age- and sex-matched controls recruited from general population. The paper presents the results of the survey on the prevalence of gallstones in a relatively big group of hemodialysis patients (n = 114; 49 females, 65 males). The goal of the study was to examine whether the genesis of gallstones could be explained by renal failure itself. Gallstones have been found in 24 of 114 hemodialysis patients (21.05%), predominantly females (n = 14). Gallstones have been found in 28.75% of female patients, and in only 15.38% of male patients. The frequency of gallstones correlated significantly with age of the patients (r = 0.26, p < 0.05), number of pregnancies (r = 0.20, p < 0.005) and deliveries (r = 0.22, p < 0.05). Patients suffering from gallstones were significantly older (60.58 +/- 11.99:51.72 +/- 14.01 years, t = 3.10, p < 0.01), with every third older than 54 affected. The results observed do not differ from the results of other authors that report the morbidity in general population. In conclusion, gallstones in hemodialysis patients show same frequency as in general population and probably result from the same pathophysiologic mechanisms.