Gall bladder dysmotility in diabetes mellitus--an ultrasound study

Fifty two diabetic patients and 15 healthy control subjects were prospectively studied for their gall bladder function by ultrasound examination. The fasting gall bladder volume (FGBV) was calculated by using ellipse formula from the dimension of gall bladder shadow seen on ultrasound screen in two different cuts. The contractility of gall bladder was measured by calculating post prandial ejection fraction (EF) of the gall bladder. The mean FGBV and EF in 52 diabetic patients was found to be 20.7 +/- 10.7 cc and 47.5 +/- 20.1%, which was not significantly different from that in normal controls. Age, sex, obesity, diabetic control and presence of dyspeptic symptoms had no impact in FGBV and EF. Diabetic symptoms had no impact in FGBV and EF. However, diabetics with longer duration of disease had poorer gall bladder contractility (p < 0.05). Patients with autonomic neuropathy (AN) had significantly larger FGBV but normal contractility. Our results suggest that (a) long standing diabetics may have poor gall bladder emptying predisposing to gall stone formation (b) patients with autonomic neuropathy have reduced tone of fasting gall bladder but normal contractility.