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The size and contractility of the gallbladder in infants
L Lehtonen1, E Svedström, H Korvenranta
1Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Finland.
Insights
Gallbladder size increases with age in infants, but this is normalized by weight. Gallbladder contractility significantly decreases with age in healthy infants under one year.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infant Physiology
- Biliary System Development
Background:
- Understanding normal gallbladder function in infants is crucial for diagnosing biliary disorders.
- Previous studies on infant gallbladder physiology are limited, particularly regarding contractility changes with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess gallbladder size and contractility in healthy infants aged 6 weeks to 12 months.
- To determine age-related variations in gallbladder function during early infancy.
Main Methods:
- Ultrasound measurements of gallbladder size before and after a test meal in 43 healthy infants.
- Calculation of the contraction index (CI) to quantify gallbladder contractility.
- Analysis of gallbladder size relative to infant body weight.
Main Results:
- Fasting gallbladder size increased with infant age, but normalized when corrected for weight.
- Gallbladder contractility, measured by CI, significantly declined with age, from 75% at 6 weeks to 24% at 12 months.
- High variability in gallbladder size and contractility was observed among infants.
Conclusions:
- Infant gallbladder size does not show age-related variation when adjusted for weight.
- Gallbladder contractility decreases significantly with age in healthy infants.
- Significant individual variations in gallbladder size and function exist in infants under one year.
Abstract:
The size of the gallbladder and the common bile duct as well as the contractility of the gallbladder were measured in infants under the age of 1 year. A total of 43 healthy infants were studied at their routine visit to the well-baby clinic at the ages of 6 weeks, 4 months, 8 months or 12 months. Gallbladder size was measured before and after a test meal. Fasting gallbladder size increased with the age of the infants. However, when the size was corrected for the infant's weight, no age-related variation was found. The contraction index (CI) was determined as a percentage decrement of planimetric gallbladder size from the initial size. The mean CI declined with age from 75% (+/- 27%) (mean (+/- SD)) at the age of 6 weeks to 24% (+/- 28%) at the age of 12 months. Overall CI varied from -44% to 100%. An increase in gallbladder size after the test meal was observed in 4 infants. Gallbladder volumes were also calculated, but two-dimensional measurements were regarded as more accurate in infants. A large variation was found in the size as well as in the contractility of the gallbladder in infants less than 1 year of age.