[Hypothyroidism is common in bile duct stone patients]

For decades, one well-known risk factor for the development of gallbladder stones has been hypothyroidism. Recent studies have reported that the risk for common bile duct stones particularly increases both in clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism. There are multiple factors that may contribute to the formation and/or accumulation of common bile duct stones in hypothyroid patients, including decreased liver cholesterol metabolism, diminished bile secretion, and reduced sphincter of Oddi relaxation. When treating patients with common bile duct stones or microlithiasis, the clinicians should be aware of the possible hypothyroid background, and consider the need for thyroid function assessment in these patients.