Do patients with systemic sclerosis have abnormal gallbladder function?
OBJECTIVE
To determine gallbladder motility in patients with systemic sclerosis.


METHODS
Case control study.


METHODS
University hospital, out-patient department of rheumatology.


METHODS
Ten patients with systemic sclerosis according to the criteria of the American Rheumatism Association with documented involvement of the gastrointestinal tract and 10 healthy controls matched for age, sex and body mass index.


METHODS
Cephalic vagal cholinergic simulation by modified sham feeding and hormonal stimulation by infusion of cholecystokinin.


METHODS
Gallbladder volume obtained by ultrasonography and determination of plasma cholecystokinin concentrations.


RESULTS
Fasting gallbladder volumes were not significantly different between patients with systemic sclerosis and controls (19.6 +/- 1.9 cm3 and 23.3 +/- 2.9 cm3, respectively, mean plus or minus standard error of the mean). Neither were there significant differences in reduction of gallbladder volume in response to modified sham feeding (35 +/- 4% and 33 +/- 4%, respectively) nor during cholecystokinin infusion (56 +/- 4% and 60 +/- 6%, respectively). The increase in plasma cholecystokinin levels during infusion was not different in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Gallbladder motility in patients with systemic sclerosis is preserved in response to both cholinergic and hormonal stimulation, even when other gastrointestinal motor disturbances are present. These results suggest that patients with systemic sclerosis are not at increased risk for cholelithiasis because of gallbladder dysmotility.
Posthuma
W F
WF
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Ledeboer
M
M
Masclee
A A
AA
Dijkmans
B A
BA
Westendorp
R G
RG
Jebbink
M C
MC
Breedveld
F C
FC
Lamers
C B
CB
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D002766:Cholecystokinin