Increased risk of asymptomatic gallstones in patients with ulcerative colitis.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between Crohn's disease and gallstones is established. However, the prevalence and risk factors for gallstones in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are not yet well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of gallstones in patients with UC.


METHODS
This study was a retrospective single center study. A total of 87 patients with UC and 261 healthy controls were enrolled. Age, sex, and body mass index were matched. To investigate risk factors, the extent of UC, duration of disease, number of hospital admissions, and number of steroid treatments in patients with UC were evaluated.


RESULTS
The prevalence of gallstones in patients with UC was 13.8%, whereas that in healthy controls was only 3.1% (P<0.001). For patients with UC, patients ≥50 years of age had a 3.6-times higher risk of gallstones compared to that in those <50 years of age, and the difference was statistically significant (odds ratio, 3.60; confidence interval, 1.03-12.61) in univariate analysis. There were no statistically significant disease-related risk factors for gallstones in UC patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study of gallstone prevalence in Korean UC patients. In this study, patients with UC had a higher prevalence of gallstones compared to that in well-matched healthy controls. Age seemed to be a possible risk factor, and more studies are needed. Further prospective, large-scale studies will be required to confirm the risk factors for gallstones in UC patients.
Department of Gastroenterology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jung Hoon
JH
Ha
Department of Gastroenterology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Young Sook
YS
Park
Department of Gastroenterology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Choon Sik
CS
Seon
Department of Gastroenterology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Byung Kwan
BK
Son
Department of Gastroenterology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sang Bong
SB
Ahn
Department of Gastroenterology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Young Kwan
YK
Jo
Department of Gastroenterology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Seong Hwan
SH
Kim
Department of Gastroenterology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yun Ju
YJ
Jo
Department of Family Medicine, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jung Hwan
JH
Kim
Department of Family Medicine, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jee Hye
JH
Han
Department of Radiology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yoon Young
YY
Jung
Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Sook Hee
SH
Chung
Asymptomatic disease; Colitis, ulcerative; Gallstones; Prevalence; Risk factors