title: Incidence of congenital hemolytic anemias in young cholelithiasis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the incidence of congenital hemolytic anemias (CHA) in young cholelithiasis patients and to determine a possible screening test based on the results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young cholelithiasis patients (< 35 years) were invited to our outpatient clinic. Participants were asked for comorbidities and family history. The number of gallstones were recorded. Blood samples were obtained to perform a complete blood count, standard Wright-Giemsa staining, reticulocyte count, hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis, serum lactate dehydrogenase and bilirubin levels, and lipid profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 3226 cholecystectomy patients, 199 were under 35 years, and 190 with no diagnosis of CHA were invited to take part in the study. Fifty three patients consented to the study. The median age was 29 years (range, 17-35 years), 5 were male and 48 were female. Twelve patients (22.6%) were diagnosed as thalassemia trait and/or ıron-deficiency anemia. Hb levels were significantly lower (P = 0.046), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and hematocrit levels were slightly lower (P = 0.072 and 0.082, respectively) than normal. There was also a significantly lower number of gallstones with the diagnosis (P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In endemic regions, for young cholelithiasis patients (age under 35) with 2-5 gallstones, the clinician/surgeon should pay attention to MCV and Hb levels as indicative of CHA.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University of Baskent, Ankara 06490, Turkey. ezerali@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ezer
authors.forename: Nurkan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Torer
authors.forename: Tarik Zafer
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Nursal
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kizilkilic
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caliskan
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Colakoglu
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000745:Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D008055:Lipids; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001663:Bilirubin