title: Gallbladder motility change in late pregnancy and after delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of gallstone disease has increased recently in Korea and there seems to be an increased prevalence of gallstones when in association with pregnancy. Although the pathogenesis is incompletely defined, and altered motility of the gallbladder may contribute to the increased risk of gallstones during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured gallbladder volume using real-time ultrasonography to find out the mechanism for the changes of gallbladder motility during late pregnancy. Eighteen pregnant women took the gallbladder ultrasonography during their last trimester of pregnancy and after delivery; gallbladder volume and ejection fraction were calculated in each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fasting gallbladder volumes increased significantly in the last trimester of pregnancy (25.28 +/- 14.26ml) compared with postpartum (17.44 +/- 5.82 ml) (p < 0.05). Gallbladder volumes measured after fatty meals showed more increment in pregnant women (10.13 +/- 7.19 ml) than in those after delivery (4.34 +/- 3.36 ml) (p < 0.005). A significantly reduced gallbladder ejection fraction was found in the pregnant group (60.56 +/- 18.80%) compared with those after delivery (77.48 +/- 13.37%) (p < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gallbladder motility in late pregnancy shows significant impairment compared with that in postpartum. Thus, we suggest that gallbladder hypomotility may occur during late pregnancy, and this impairment of gallbladder motility may play an important role in gallstone formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul Korea.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hahm
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: O Y
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal