title: Radiolucent gallstone dissolution with bedtime UDCA administration.
abstract: 26 patients (20 females and 6 males, mean age 40.5 years +/- SEM 2.20, mean weight 60.2 kg +/- 1.98) with radiolucent gallstones of diameter less than or equal to 10 mm were treated for 6 months with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a single dose of 600 mg at bedtime. The rate of partial + complete dissolutions was 85%, reaching 100% for gallstones of less than 4 mm diameter. No side effects were observed. In a similar series of patients treated with UDCA t.i.d. at mealtimes (10--12 mg/kg/day) a slightly lower dissolution rate was obtained but the difference was not statistically significant.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000628:therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012995:Solubility; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003840:Deoxycholic Acid; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol