title: [The problem of biliary sludge].
abstract: The authors review current literature on etiology, pathogenesis and classification of biliary sludge (BS); they analyse factors promoting formation of BS and show that ultrasonic investigation is the key diagnostic method, detecting various forms of BS and differentiating BS with parietal new-growths of the gallbladder, evaluating function of the latter and controlling efficacy of conservative therapy. Follow-up results demonstrate that BS can disappear spontaneously, be persistent in a part of patients, form stones in 20% patients. Clinical picture in BS has no specific symptoms but in 33-75% cases it is associated with development of biliary pancreatitis as a results of secondary dysfunction of the Oddi's sphincter. The latest findings on efficacy of litholytic therapy in BS and data on possible use of nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs as inhibitors of mucin production to prevent recurrent cholelithiasis are presented.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Il'chenko
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Vikhrova
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009803:Sphincter of Oddi / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid