Cholelithiasis in cirrhosis: features in a group of Egyptian cholecystectomy candidates

ABSTRACT

To investigate the main features [stone type and others] of cholelithiasis in a group of Egyptian cirrhotics undergoing cholecystectomy by studying them versus hepatosteatotic and normal liver cholecystectomy candidates, 200 consecutive Egyptian patients undergoing cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis were studied. According to their liver condition, they were divided into three groups Frank cirrhosis, hepatosteatosis and normal liver. The three groups were compared regarding the stone type by gross appearance and chemical analysis, nature of cholecystitis, incidence, gender and gallbladder bile crystallization. There were 19 cirrhotics, 33 hepatosteatotics and 148 normal liver patients. In the cirrhotic group [10 males and 9 females], 18 had pigment stones, one had mixed stone and none had cholesterol stones. None of the bile specimens were crystallized in this group. In the hepatosteatosis group [4 males and 29 females], 7 had pigment stones, 22 mixed and 4 cholesterol. In the normal liver group [27 males and 121 females], 24 had pigment stones, 99 had mixed stones and 25 had cholesterol stones. Gallbladder bile crystallization in groups II and III matched more with the type of stone than with the liver condition. Stone type and male to female ratio differed significantly between group I and either of groups II and III, whereas the latter two groups were not significantly different