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Gallbladder dyskinesia in chronic acalculous cholecystitis
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|May 1, 1986
Summary
Poor gallbladder contractility and biliary cholesterol crystals indicate an early stage of human cholesterol gallstone disease. This finding links impaired gallbladder function to acalculous cholecystitis, a precursor to gallstones.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Hepatobiliary Medicine
- Digestive Diseases
Background:
- Cholesterol gallstone formation is a significant health concern.
- Previous research linked poor gallbladder contractility to gallstones in animal models.
- The early stages of human cholesterol gallstone disease remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis of an early stage of human cholesterol gallstone formation.
- To identify potential markers for this early stage, including symptoms of chronic cholecystitis, poor gallbladder emptying, and biliary cholesterol crystals.
Main Methods:
- Studied 36 symptomatic patients with normal oral cholecystography and gallbladder sonography.
- Assessed cholecystokinin-stimulated gallbladder emptying using DISIDA scintigraphy.
- Examined bile for the presence of cholesterol crystals.
Main Results:
- 16 out of 36 patients had biliary cholesterol crystals, with a mean gallbladder ejection fraction of 25.9%.
- 20 patients without crystals had a significantly higher mean ejection fraction of 60.3%.
- Histological examination confirmed chronic cholecystitis in most patients with preoperative crystals.
Conclusions:
- Poor gallbladder contractility is associated with biliary cholesterol crystals in symptomatic patients.
- This impaired contractility is linked to acalculous cholecystitis.
- Acalculous cholecystitis may represent an early stage of human cholesterol gallstone disease.
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