Determination of chemical composition of gall bladder stones: basis for treatment strategies in patients from Yaounde, Cameroon.
OBJECTIVE
Gallstone disease is increasing in sub-saharan Africa (SSA). In the west, the majority of stones can be dissolved with bile salts, since the major component is cholesterol. This medical therapy is expensive and not readily accessible to poor populations of SSA. It was therefore necessary to analyze the chemical composition of biliary stones in a group of patients, so as to make the case for introducing bile salt therapy in SSA.


METHODS
All patients with symptomatic gallstones were recruited in the study. All stones removed during cholecystectomy were sent to Houston for x-ray diffraction analysis. Data on age, sex, serum cholesterol, and the percentage by weight of cholesterol, calcium carbonate, and amorphous material in each stone was entered into a pre-established proforma. Frequencies of the major components of the stones were determined.


RESULTS
Sixteen women and ten men aged between 27 and 73 (mean 44.9) years provided stones for the study. The majority of patients (65.38%) had stones with less than 25% of cholesterol. Amorphous material made up more than 50% and 100% of stones from 16 (61.53%) and 9 (34.61%) patients respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Cholesterol is present in small amounts in a minority of gallstones in Yaounde. Dissolution of gallstones with bile salts is unlikely to be successful.
Angwafo
Fru F
FF
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon. asanji25@hotmail.com
Takongmo
Samuel
S
Griffith
Donald
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000032:analysis; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002784:Cholesterol; D002119:Calcium Carbonate