Clinical and biochemical comparative study of different types of common bile duct stones.
BACKGROUND
The chemical composition of common bile duct (CBD) stones may have significance with regard to the origin, clinical presentation and treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To study the chemical composition of CBD stones and compare different types of CBD stones.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with CBD stones seen over a 1-year period were studied prospectively. Their stones were analyzed for cholesterol, bilirubin and calcium contents.


RESULTS
Of 74 patients with CBD stones, 42 had associated gall bladder (GB) stones (Group 1), 14 had post-cholecystectomy CBD stones (Group 2) and 18 had CBD stones with a stoneless GB in situ (Group 3). Of the 40 patients whose CBD stones were analyzed, 34 (85%; 18/19 in Group 1, 5/6 in Group 2 and 11/15 in Group 3) had cholesterol stones; the remaining 6 patients had pigment stones.


CONCLUSIONS
Most CBD stones in northern Indian patients are cholesterol stones. Even in patients with isolated CBD stones (with stoneless GB in situ), three-quarters are cholesterol stones.
Kumar
D
D
Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Garg
P K
PK
Tandon
R K
RK
D001663:Bilirubin / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D042882:Gallstones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D002784:Cholesterol; D001663:Bilirubin; D002118:Calcium