Small gallstones, preserved gallbladder motility, and fast crystallization are associated with pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis is a severe complication of gallstones with considerable mortality. We sought to explore the potential risk factors for biliary pancreatitis. We compared postprandial gallbladder motility (via ultrasonography) and, after subsequent cholecystectomy, numbers, sizes, and types of gallstones; gallbladder bile composition; and cholesterol crystallization in 21 gallstone patients with previous pancreatitis and 30 patients with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones. Gallbladder motility was stronger in pancreatitis patients than in patients with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones (minimum postprandial gallbladder volumes: 5.8 +/- 1.0 vs. 8.1 +/- 0.7 mL; P = .005). Pancreatitis patients had more often sludge (41% vs. 13%; P = .03) and smaller and more gallstones than patients with symptomatic gallstones (smallest stone diameters: 2 +/- 1 vs. 8 +/- 2 mm; P = .001). Also, crystallization occurred much faster in the bile of pancreatitis patients (1.0 +/- 0.0 vs. 2.5 +/- 0.4 days; P < .001), possibly because of higher mucin concentrations (3.3 +/- 1.9 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.2 mg/mL; P = .04). No significant differences were found in types of gallstones, relative biliary lipid contents, cholesterol saturation indexes, bile salt species composition, phospholipid classes, total protein or immunoglobulin (G, M, and A), haptoglobin, and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein concentrations. In conclusion, patients with small gallbladder stones and/or preserved gallbladder motility are at increased risk of pancreatitis. The potential benefit of prophylactic cholecystectomy in this patient category has yet to be explored.
Venneman
Niels G
NG
Gastrointestinal Research Unit, Departments of Gastroenterology and Surgery, University Medical Center, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Renooij
Willem
W
Rehfeld
Jens F
JF
VanBerge-Henegouwen
Gerard P
GP
Go
Peter M N Y H
PM
Broeders
Ivo A M J
IA
van Erpecum
Karel J
KJ
D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D002784:Cholesterol