title: Gall-stone dissolution treatment using cholelitholytic bile acids: experience with 24 patients.
abstract: Twenty-four patients with radiolucent gall stones were treated with cholelitholytic bile acids. Complete gall-stone dissolution was achieved in 8 patients (33%) and partial dissolution in 3 patients (13%). Therapy was never successful for large gall stones (greater than 15 mm). Even in the group of patients with very small stones (less than or equal to 5 mm) complete dissolution was obtained in only 47% of cases. Patients with atypical abdominal complaints or without symptoms never developed biliary pain or colic nor did their symptoms improve during therapy. On the contrary, 3 of 6 patients with previous biliary pain or colic had to be operated because of recurrence during therapy.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: van Erpecum
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: van Berge Henegouwen
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: van der Werf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002765:Cholecystography; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003840:Deoxycholic Acid; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid