Gall bladder motility in patients with schistosomal hepatosplenomegaly and portal hypertension

ABSTRACT

Gallbladder emptying in response to a fatty meal was studied by oral cholecystography in 60 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and 50 healthy normal volunteers. In schistosomal cases the incidence of non-visualized gallbladder was significantly higher than that of the control cases. The overall gallbladder evacuation time and the rate of gallbladder emptying were significantly delayed in the schistosomal patients. The maximum gallbladder contraction was reached after 120 minutes in the schistosomal patients and 60 minutes in the control cases. These findings should be considered when investigating patient with flatulent dyspepsia particularly or biliary origin