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Is there a place for medical treatment in children with gallstones?
Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|March 1, 1997
Abstract
Background:
Medical treatment of gallstones with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) has not been evaluated in children.
Aim:
The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of UDCA in the treatment of gallstones in children.
Methods:
UDCA was used to treat 15 patients, (7 boys and 8 girls; mean age, 7.8 years; range, 3 months to 15 years) for 1 year. All had radiolucent stones with a maximum diameter of 10 mm and a normally contractile gallbladder.
Results:
The stones disappeared completely in two children but returned later. All symptomatic patients became symptom free.
Conclusion:
UDCA is ineffective in the treatment of gallstones in children except in terms of relieving symptoms while on treatment.