title: Outcome of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) treatment in 125 patients with radiolucent gallstones. Factors influencing efficacy, withdrawal, symptoms and side effects and post-dissolution recurrence.
abstract: Of 125 patients with radiolucent gallstones in functioning gallbladders treated with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) between 1971 and 1977, 47 showed complete gallstone dissolution--an overall efficacy of 38%. However, a retrospective analysis of factors governing efficacy carried out in 1976 showed that in patients with stones less than 15 mm in diameter, treated with greater than 13 mg CDCA kg-1 day-1 for not less than one year who developed unsaturated bile (n = 27), efficacy rose to 78% complete and 93% partial plus complete gallstone dissolution. The usefulness of this selection/management approach was then confirmed prospectively in 42 comparable patients selected for treatment since 1977, efficacy (complete gallstone dissolution) reached 76%. The median duration of treatment for complete gallstone dissolution was 7.5 months for stones less than 5 mm in diameter, 12.0 for 5-10 mm stones; 22.0 for 10-15 mm stones and 28.5 for the only two patients (of 26) with large (greater than 15 mm) stones who ultimately showed complete gallstone dissolution. Seventy-eight patients withdrew from therapy, 21 within 6 months of starting CDCA (before their first follow-up cholecystogram): the remaining 57 withdrew because of: complications of gallstones (11 patients), inadequate treatment (dose and/or duration, 20 patients), inappropriate selection or unsuitable stones (19 patients) and resistance to CDCA (7 patients). Diarrhea, although common, was usually mild or transient. Biliary colic and non-specific dyspepsia tended to improve during therapy. To date, gallstone recurrence has been detected in 14 patients (30%), 3 months to 5 years after discontinuing treatment with CDCA.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid