[Gallstone dissolution in an adult female population: trial with lovastatin therapy]

There are no chilean reports on gallstone dissolution using oral medications.

To measure the proportion of asymptomatic adult women eligible for gallstone dissolution therapy and to test the effectiveness and tolerance of lovastatin for this purpose.

Three hundred fifty six women working at health care institutions were subjected to a gallbladder ultrasound examination. Non pregnant women with radiolucent gallstones of less than 2 cm phi were invited to receive lovastatin 20 mg od and were followed during six months.

Twenty two women had gallstones and eight eligible women received lovastatin therapy. No reduction in stone size was observed in these women.

Less than half of asymptomatic women with gallstones are eligible for oral dissolution therapy. Lovastatin did not reduce gallstone size after six months of therapy.