Gallbladder motility in children with Down syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate gallbladder motility in children with Down syndrome by measuring gall-bladder volume and contraction index.


METHODS
This study, performed between January 2001 and December 2002 at the Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Samsun, Turkey, included 21 patients with Down syndrome (study group) and 22 healthy children (control group). After an 8-hour fast, gallbladder diameters in both groups were measured in length, width, and height by ultrasonography before and 30 minutes after a test meal. The volume of gallbladder before and after a test meal was determined, and the contraction index was calculated. Blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels were measured, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in urine were determined.


RESULTS
Mean gallbladder volume before test meal in the study group and controls was 8,412.4 +/- 5,174 mm and 16,516.8 +/- 6,796.1 mm (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean contraction index of the study group was 41.2% +/- 19.4% and of controls, 75.0% +/- 12.3% (P < 0.001). The mean triglyceride level of the study group was significantly higher than controls (P < 0.05). The mean urine 5-HIAA level of the study group was lower than controls (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CI was lower in patients with Down syndrome, suggesting gallbladder hypomotility. Hypomotility may be a feature associated with the high prevalence of gallstones in Down syndrome.
Ondokuz Mayis University, Department of Paediatrics, Kurupelit, Turkey. htasdemir@omu.edu.tr
Haydar Ali
HA
Taşdemir
Melih Cevdet
MC
Cetinkaya
Cafer
C
Polat
Umit
U
Belet
Ayhan Gazi
AG
Kalayci
Seval
S
Akbaş
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000502:physiology; D042882:Gallstones / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
D014280:Triglycerides; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid