Cholelithiasis in Jamaican patients with homozygous sickle cell disease

The prevalence of cholelithiasis in Jamaican adults with SS disease was studied by plain abdominal radiograph in 206 patients and by oral cholecystogram in 126 (61%) of these patients. Gallstones were found in 57 (28%) of patients, were more common in females than males, and increased with age and hemolytic rate. The majority of gallstones were visible on the plain abdominal radiograph, only 17% of patients with gallstones having only radiolucent stones. Nonfunctioning oral cholecystograms were common (10%) in agreement with observations by previous workers. Gallstones were noted in the common bile duct in 2 patients. In general there was no clear relationship between the presence of cholelithiasis and clinical symptomatology. Complications, such as pancreatitis and malignant change in the gall bladder, recognized to be associated with cholelithiasis in the general population, have not been clearly related to cholelithiasis in SS disease. More information is needed before a logical policy can be evolved for surgical intervention in cholelithiasis in SS disease.