[Medical treatment of biliary lithiasis. Orally administered biliary acids]

In the western world, gallstones are constituted completely by or have more than 70% of cholesterol. This is a consequence of a metabolic derangement in the biliary lipids composition. With the administration of quenodesoxicholic and ursodesoxicholic acids, the molar relationship between the biliary lipids modified in order to dissolve the gallstones. With the use of the bile acids alone or in combination we accomplished the complete dissolution in 38-55% of selected patients. In the present paper we review the rationale, indications, posology and monitorization of the patients submitted to treatment with orally bile acids.