[Lithogenicity of bile in patients after ileal resection]

Biliary lipid composition and lithogenicity were studied in 40 patients after ileal resection of different extent. The lithogenic index increased in extended ileal resection and ileostomy groups. There was a significant positive correlation between the lithogenic index and the length of ileal resection (r = 0.65, p less than 0.001). Total bile acid concentration and the proportion of deoxycholic acid were decreased after ileal resections as compared to controls. Especially these changes were remarkable in the extended ileal resection and ileostomy groups (p less than 0.001). Nine out of 40 patients were restudied after one month of oral ursodeoxycholic acid administration (300mg/day). Ursodeoxycholic acid consistently reduced the lithogenicity by decreasing the proportion of cholesterol in bile. Ursodeoxycholic acid was useful reducing bile lithogenicity in patients whose bile was supersaturated after ileal resection.