Cirrhosis of the liver. A risk factor for development of cholelithiasis in males

Gallstone Disease in Cirrhosis-Pathogenesis and Management

Gallstones are more common in patients with cirrhosis of the liver, and the incidence increases with severity of liver disease. Pigment stones are the most frequent type of gallstones (GSs) in cirrhotics, and majority remain asymptomatic. Hepatitis C virus infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are the underlying etiologies of liver diseases that most often associated with GSs. Multiple altered mechanisms in cirrhosis such as chronic hemolysis due to hypersplenism, reduced bile acid synthesis and transport, decreased cholesterol secretion, decreased apolipoprotein A-I and A-II secretion, gallbladder hypo-motility, autonomic dysfunction, and portal hypertension collectively lead to increased risk of lithogenesis. Asymptomatic GSs should be followed up closely and offered laparoscopic cholecystectomy once symptomatic in Child-Pugh class A and B patients. The model for the end-stage liver disease score is the best predictor of the outcome after cholecystectomy. In patients of Child-Pugh class C, conservative or minimally invasive approaches should be used to treat complications of GSs.

Hepatitis C Virus Infection Increases Risk of Gallstone Disease in Elderly Chinese Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

We investigated possible links between the etiology of liver disease and gallstone risk in Chinese patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). We compared the outcomes of 267 Chinese CLD patients with gallstones and those of a control group of 1,015 CLD patients without gallstones. Logistic regression analyses adjusting for demographic features and other gallstone risk factors revealed that liver cirrhosis increased the risk of gallstone development twofold [adjusted odds ratio (AOR); 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.343 (1.710–3.211)]. HCV infection increased gallstone risk 1–2-fold [AOR; 95% CI: 1.582 (1.066–2.347)] higher than did HBV infection. Multivariate analyses of the risk of developing gallstones in patients with liver cirrhosis after an HCV or HBV infection yielded an estimated AOR (95% CI) of 1.601 (1.063–2.413) in patients with an HCV infection. In elderly patients with CLD (≥60 years of age), gallstone risk also increased significantly after an HCV infection [AOR (95% CI): 2.394 (1.066–5.375)]. HCV infection, older age, and liver cirrhosis significantly correlate with an increased risk of gallstone development in Chinese patients with CLD. HCV infection further increases this risk in both patients with liver cirrhosis and in elderly CLD patients (≥60 years of age).

Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for the development of liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C patients

We explored the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and the risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). To examine the link between DM and liver cirrhosis, we conducted a case-control study of 210 Chinese CHC patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, comparing them to an age- and sex-matched control group of 431 CHC patients without liver cirrhosis. We conducted logistic regression analyses adjusting for demographic features and liver cirrhosis risk factors, and found that DM increased the risk of developing liver cirrhosis 2-fold [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 2.132; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.344–3.382]. Furthermore, the proportion of liver cirrhosis patients and CHC-only patients with elevated serum triglycerides (>1.8 mmol/L) were 5.2% and 17.4%, respectively, yielding an AOR of 0.264 (95% CI, 0.135–0.517). Multivariate analyses that stratified the risk of developing HCV-related liver cirrhosis in DM patients by gender revealed that the estimated AOR (95% CI) for males was 0.415 (0.178–0.969). In conclusion, DM was associated with an increased risk of developing liver cirrhosis in CHC patients in China. Furthermore, among patients diagnosed with both CHC and DM, females had an increased risk of liver cirrhosis development.

Liver cirrhosis: a risk factor for gallstone disease in chronic hepatitis C patients in China

We investigated the possible link between liver cirrhosis and gallstone risk in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients in China.To analyze the association between liver cirrhosis and gallstone development, we compared outcomes of 133 Chinese CHC patients with gallstones and an age-, sex-, and hepatitis C virus RNA level-matched control group of 431 CHC patients without gallstones.We found that liver cirrhosis was more prevalent in gallstone patients (40.6%) than in the control group (24.4%). Logistic regression analyses adjusting for demographic features and other gallstone risk factors revealed that liver cirrhosis increased the risk of gallstone development 2-fold (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.122; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.408-3.198). Moreover, multivariate analyses comparing the risk of gallstone development in liver cirrhosis patients with decompensated or compensated liver cirrhosis yielded an estimated AOR (95% CI) of 2.869 (1.277-6.450) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Gallstone risk also increased significantly with older age (>60 years) (AOR: 2.019; 95% CI: 1.017-4.009).Liver cirrhosis significantly correlates with increased risk of gallstone development in CHC patients in China. Decompensated liver cirrhosis and older age further heighten this risk in patients diagnosed with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis.

Gallstones in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases

With prevalence of 10-20% in adults in developed countries, gallstone disease (GSD) is one of the most prevalent and costly gastrointestinal tract disorders in the world. In addition to gallstone disease, chronic liver disease (CLD) is also an important global public health problem. The reported frequency of gallstone in chronic liver disease tends to be higher. The prevalence of gallstone disease might be related to age, gender, etiology, and severity of liver disease in patients with chronic liver disease. In this review, the aim was to identify the epidemiology, mechanisms, and treatment strategies of gallstone disease in chronic liver disease patients.

Short-term outcome of total clipless laparoscopic cholecystectomy for complicated gallbladder stones in cirrhotic patients

BACKGROUND

Cirrhotic patients have been known to be more affected with gallstones than their non-cirrhotic counterparts; since laparoscopy was introduced, it has been generally approved as the standard approach for cholecystectomies with the exception of end-stage cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of clipless laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the harmonic scalpel in complicated cholelithiasis in cirrhotic patients.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted on 62 cirrhotic patients presenting to the Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit in Alexandria Main University Hospital with complicated gallstones between March 2013 and March 2016. Both intraoperative time and blood loss were calculated in addition to rates of conversion to open cholecystectomy, morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

Most of our cases were females with a ratio of 1.7:1, with a mean age of 45.21 years, ranging from 25 to 65 years. The most common cause of cirrhotic liver was hepatitis C in 45.1% of patients. Among the 62 patients included in the study, 56 patients (90.3%) were presenting with acute cholecystitis and six patients were operated at the onset of acute biliary pancreatitis. The mean operative time was 72.9 min with mean blood loss 45.45 mL.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded safety of total clipless laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a harmonic scalpel in Child A and B type cirrhotic patients, who presented with complicated gallstones.

Endoscopic management of choledocholithiasis and cholelithiasis in patients with cirrhosis

Treatment of choledocholithiasis and cholelithiasis in patients with cirrhosis often requires diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Patients with underlying cirrhosis may have coagulopathy, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites and other comorbidities associated with cirrhosis that can make endoscopic therapy challenging and can be associated with a higher risk of adverse events. Given the unique derangements of physiologic parameters associated with cirrhosis this population requires a truly multifaceted and multidisciplinary understanding between therapeutic endoscopists, hepatologists and anesthesiologists. For therapeutic endoscopists, it is critical to be aware of the specific issues unique to this population of patients to optimize outcomes and avoid adverse events. The epidemiology of gallstone disease, the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to patients with varying degree of hepatic dysfunction, and a review of the available literature in this area are presented.

Concept of the pathogenesis and treatment of cholelithiasis

Gallstone disease (GD) is a chronic recurrent hepatobiliary disease, the basis for which is the impaired metabolism of cholesterol, bilirubin and bile acids, which is characterized by the formation of gallstones in the hepatic bile duct, common bile duct, or gallbladder. GD is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases with a substantial burden to health care systems. GD can result in serious outcomes, such as acute gallstone pancreatitis and gallbladder cancer. The epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of GD are discussed in this review. The prevalence of GD varies widely by region. The prevalence of gallstone disease has increased in recent years. This is connected with a change in lifestyle: reduction of motor activity, reduction of the physical load and changes to diets. One of the important benefits of early screening for gallstone disease is that ultrasonography can detect asymptomatic cases, which results in early treatment and the prevention of serious outcomes. The pathogenesis of GD is suggested to be multifactorial and probably develops from complex interactions between many genetic and environmental factors. It suggests that corticosteroids and oral contraceptives, which contain hormones related to steroid hormones, may be regarded as a model system of cholelithiasis development in man. The achievement in the study of the physiology of bile formation and the pathogenesis of GD has allowed expanding indications for therapeutic treatment of GD.

Cirrhosis is not a contraindication to laparoscopic cholecystectomy: results and practical recommendations

BACKGROUND

Gallstones appear more frequently in patients with cirrhosis and open cholecystectomy in this patient population is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhosis and to provide recommendations for management.

METHODS

Retrospective review of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhosis from March 1999 to May 2008 was performed. Peri-operative characteristics and subgroup analysis were performed in patients with Child-Pugh's classes A, B and C cirrhosis.

RESULTS

A total of 68 patients were reviewed in this study. In all, 69% of the patients were Child's class A. The most common indication for cholecystectomy was chronic/symptomatic cholelithiasis (68%). Compared with patients with Child's class B and C, laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with Child's class A was associated with significantly decreased operative time (P= 0.01), blood loss (P= 0.001), conversion to open cholecystectomy (P= 0.001) and length of hospital stay (P= 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhosis is feasible with no mortality and low morbidity, especially in patients with Child's class A cirrhosis.

The prevalence and risk factors for gallstone disease

Gallstone disease is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders. In addition, the costs associated with the diagnosis and treatment of gallstone disease have been rapidly increasing. The etiology and pathogenesis of gallstone disease remains incompletely understood. Gallstone formation may result from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. This article reviews the prevalence and risk factors associated with gallstone disease. Understanding the pathogenesis of gallstone disease could lead to the development of better therapeutic and preventive strategies for dealing with this disease.

Factors influencing the prevalence of gallstones in liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To investigate the prevalence of gallstone disease in Chinese patients with liver cirrhosis and to identify risk factors for cholelithiasis.

METHODS

Blood samples were tested and ultrasonographic examination of the upper abdomen was conducted to observe the prevalence of gallstones in 90 compensated cirrhotic patients (Child-Pugh A), 180 decompensated cirrhotic patients (Child-Pugh B, C) and 300 controls. Risk factors for gallstone formation (age, sex, pregnancy, family history) and the characteristics of liver cirrhosis (Child class, inside diameter of portal vein), and gallbladder (wall thickness) were assessed.

RESULTS

Gallstones were found more often in cirrhotic patients (23.7%) than in controls (7.33%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of gallstones in decompensated cirrhotic patients was higher than that of the compensated cirrhotic patients (P < 0.001). Advanced age, female sex, family history of gallstones, gallbladder wall thickness 4 mm or greater and inside diameter of portal vein 13 mm or greater were significantly associated with gallstone disease in patients with liver cirrhosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that age (P < 0.001), sex (P = 0.0005) and thickness (4 mm or greater) of the gallbladder wall (P = 0.0064) were independently associated with gallstone disease in such patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the high prevalence of cholelithiasis in liver cirrhosis. Age and sex are risk factors for gallstones and gallbladder wall thickness could be an additional risk factor for the development of gallstone in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Variation in the risk for liver and gallbladder cancers in socioeconomic and occupational groups in Sweden with etiological implications

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations between socioeconomic/occupational factors and liver cancer at various anatomic sites (including primary liver, gallbladder and other cancers).

METHODS

We carried out a follow-up study on the economically active Swedish population, based on the Swedish Family-Cancer Database. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in different social classes and occupations.

RESULTS

For primary liver cancer, farmers were at a decreased risk; increased risks were observed for male sales agents, journalists, seamen, waiters, cooks and female beverage manufacture workers. Similar patterns were observed for gallbladder cancer; workers employed as journalists, sales agents, cooks and stewards, and public safety workers showed increased risk. Only male transport workers showed increased risk of cancers in other parts.

CONCLUSIONS

Occupations with high consumption of alcohol and/or high prevalence of smoking associated with a risk of liver and gallbladder cancers. The present study suggests that the effects of socioeconomic factors on liver cancer of different subsites are similar; alcohol drinking is a risk factor of gallbladder cancer because of the covariation of primary liver and gallbladder cancers in occupational groups.

Prevalence of gallbladder disease among persons with hepatitis C virus infection in the United States

Although cirrhosis is a known risk factor for gallstones, little is known about gallbladder disease (GBD) in individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We determined the association between chronic HCV infection and GBD in a representative sample of adults in the United States. Data on HCV infection and GBD were available for 13,465 persons 20 to 74 years of age who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The presence of GBD (gallstones or cholecystectomy) was determined using abdominal ultrasonography, and HCV infection was assessed via a positive HCV antibody test and a positive HCV RNA test. Overall, 1.6% of adults (95% CI, 1.1-2.1) had chronic HCV infection and 12.5% (95% CI, 11.3-13.7) had GBD. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the odds of gallstones (OR = 3.20; 95% CI, 1.08-9.45) and cholecystectomy (OR = 4.57; 95% CI, 1.57-13.27) among HCV-positive men was significantly higher compared with HCV-negative men. In contrast, the adjusted odds of gallstones (OR = 2.55; 95% CI, 0.58-11.25) and cholecystectomy (OR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.21-2.37) among HCV-positive women was not significantly higher. The odds of GBD increased significantly with the severity of liver disease as assessed via elevated serum bilirubin levels and low levels of serum albumin and platelets. In conclusion, chronic HCV infection was strongly associated with GBD among men but not women in the United States, and GBD was more common in adults with severe liver disease.

Risk factors for symptomatic gallstones in patients with liver cirrhosis: a case-control study

OBJECTIVES

Liver cirrhosis is a well-documented risk factor for the formation of gallstones. In cirrhotic patients, gallstones are almost always "silent," and surgery is rarely required. When indicated (symptoms or complications), cholecystectomy implies a high morbidity risk in these patients, especially in the advanced stages of cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk factors for symptom development in cirrhotic patients with gallstones to identify the subgroup of patients at risk of undergoing surgery.

METHODS

A total of 140 patients with liver cirrhosis and gallstones were studied: 97 with asymptomatic and 43 with symptomatic gallstone disease. The risk factors for gallstone formation (age, gender, family history, parity, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipoproteinemia) and the characteristics of liver cirrhosis (etiology, duration, Child class, hypersplenism), gallstones (duration, number, size), and gallbladder (size, wall thickness) were assessed in all patients. In 12 patients (four symptomatic, eight asymptomatic), gallbladder emptying was also evaluated by ultrasound. The association of asymptomatic and symptomatic gallstones with all these parameters was statistically evaluated by Student's t, Mann-Whitney, and chi(2) tests, as well as by means of multiple logistic regression. The causal relationship between these characteristics and gallstone symptoms was also examined by means of the KDD (knowledge discovery from databases) method, with an algorithm for learning Bayesian networks.

RESULTS

Advanced age, female gender, viral etiology of cirrhosis, family history of gallstones, and duration of gallstone disease were significantly associated with symptomatic gallstone disease. The number or size of gallstones and the size or emptying of the gallbladder did not differ in symptomatic versus asymptomatic patients. Male gender and alcoholic cirrhosis were inversely correlated with symptom presence. In the multivariate analysis, family history (p = 0.0098) and advanced age (p = 0.0422) were positively correlated and male gender (p = 0.0049) and alcoholic etiology of cirrhosis (p = 0.0116) negatively correlated with symptom presence. These relationships (except for age) were also evidenced by the KDD method.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of gallstones becoming symptomatic is significantly lower in men and in alcoholic cirrhosis. In cirrhotic women, and especially in the presence of a positive family history and of advanced age, the risk of developing symptoms and undergoing surgery was significantly greater.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis]

BACKGROUND

Initially considered a contraindication to the surgical laparoscopy, cirrhosis have been an occasional discovery during this procedure. Until now many series reported in the literature suggest that the majority of the surgeons still consider cirrhosis as contraindication to the laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

AIM

To evaluate our experience in laparoscopic treatment of the cholelithiasis in cirrhotic patient.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Six hundred and four patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis were operated on Clinical and Surgical Gastroenterology Unit, "Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre", Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, during the period from May 1993 to May 2000. Of these, 10 (1,6%) presented hepatic cirrhosis. The patients' age was between 22 and 69 years (average of 50,4 +/- 18,1). Eight patients (80%) were female. The alcohol was the etiological factor in four, chronic hepatitis B and C, primary biliary cirrhosis and of alfa-1 antitripsin deficiency in one patient each. In two patient the causal agent was not identified.

RESULTS

Cholecystectomy was accomplished in all patients and in seven also diagnostic hepatic biopsy. In two (20%) the surgery was converted. The result of the intraoperative cholangiography was normal in all cases. In seven patients the postoperative was uneventfull. Clinically controlled ascite was observed in two (20%). Both were Child A at the moment of the surgery. The last patient, Child C, died. He presented irreversible hepatic failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite larger experience still should be acquired, it seems that laparoscopic is a safe approach in well compensated cirrhotic patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis. In Child C patients we believed that all of the efforts should be driven to the improvement of the hepatic function or a less invasive method such as cholecystostomy.

Factors influencing the prevalence of gallstones in liver disease: the beneficial and harmful influences of alcohol

OBJECTIVE

The Patient Treatment File of the Department of Veterans Affairs comprises the computerized records of all inpatients treated in all Veterans Affairs hospitals distributed throughout the United States. This database was used to study the association between liver disease and clinically manifest cholelithiasis.

METHODS

The computerized medical records of 38,459 patients with various forms of liver disease and 69,336 controls without the diagnosis were extracted from the annual files between 1990 and 1993. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the occurrence of cholelithiasis served as the outcome variable, whereas different forms of liver disease and demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, and ethnicity, served as predictor variables.

RESULTS

Among the control population, cholelithiasis was reported in 5.2% (3,571 of 69,336) of subjects. Cholelithiasis occurred in 7.5% (2,898 of 38,459) of patients with all liver disease, 9.5% (1,642 of 17,287) of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, 13.7% (981 of 7,149) of patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, and 9.1% (66 of 728) of patients with alcoholic fatty liver (chi2 = 1059, df = 4, p < 0.001). In the logistic regression, the odds ratios (ORs) for cholelithiasis associated with various forms of liver disease were: in all liver diseases combined (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.25-1.38), in alcoholic liver cirrhosis (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.54-1.72), in nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.94-2.21), and in alcoholic fatty liver (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.11-1.75). Other risk factors for cholelithiasis besides liver disease were: female gender (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.25-1.63), older age (OR = 1.28 per age decade, 95% CI = 1.26-1.30), Native American (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.12-1.72) or Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.15-1.35), and presence of diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.35-1.52). A history of alcoholism exerted a protective influence (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.87-0.97).

CONCLUSION

Gallstone disease occurs frequently in hospitalized patients with chronic liver disease or liver cirrhosis and contributes to the burden of the disease.

Evidence of impaired gallbladder function in patients with liver cirrhosis by quantitative radionuclide cholescintigraphy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to understand gallbladder function in liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

Gallbladder function was measured in 45 patients with liver cirrhosis by Tc-99m-labeled imino-diacetic acid analog cholescintigraphy. Gallbladder function was represented by the filling fraction and the ejection fraction (EF). The patients were divided into three groups, based on cirrhotic severity, using the modified Child's classification: A = good, B = fair, and C = poor. Fifteen normal control subjects were selected for comparison.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in filling fraction among all of the study groups. Normal controls had significantly higher 60-min EF values than did liver cirrhosis patients. Among the liver cirrhosis patients, class A patients had the highest EF values, and class C patients had the lowest EF values.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that liver cirrhosis may significantly impair the gallbladder emptying, based on the evidence of quantitative Tc-99m-labeled imino-diacetic acid analog cholescintigraphy findings.

Dietary intake and gallbladder disease: a review

OBJECTIVE

Dietary intake has long been looked upon as a potentially modifiable risk factor for gallbladder disease (GBD), here defined as either having gallstones or having had surgery for gallstones. This paper reviews the epidemiological evidence for an association between dietary intake and GBD, focusing on six dietary factors that have received the most attention in studies in this area: energy intake, fatty acids, cholesterol, carbohydrates and fibre, calcium and alcohol. The objectives of this review are to evaluate the potential usefulness of altering the diet to prevent GBD and to consider future research in this area.

DESIGN

We reviewed all English-language epidemiological studies on diet and cholelithiasis that were cross-sectional, cohort or case-control in design and that were indexed in the Medline database from 1966 to October 1997.

RESULTS

A positive association was suggested with simple sugars and inverse associations with dietary fibre and alcohol. No convincing evidence was found for a role for energy intake or intake of fat or cholesterol. Variable means of ascertaining cases and inaccurate measurement of dietary intake may contribute to variation in results across studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Some specific components of the diet that may affect GBD include simple sugars, fibre and alcohol, but whether risk for GBD can be reduced by altering intake of a specific dietary factor has not been established. Although no specific dietary recommendations can be made to reduce risk of GBD per se, a 'healthy' diet aimed at reducing risk of other diseases might be expected to reduce risk for GBD as well.

Risk of breast cancer in men with liver cirrhosis

OBJECTIVE

Liver cirrhosis is associated with increased levels of estrogens, which may be causally related to breast cancer. Because background estrogen levels are lower in men than in women, an estrogen-mediated link between liver cirrhosis and breast cancer would be easier to detect in men.

METHODS

Men hospitalized with liver cirrhosis in Denmark from January 1, 1977, to December 31, 1989, were followed up, through record linkage, until the end of December 1993 for the possible occurrence of breast cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 11,642 men with liver cirrhosis were identified and were followed for a mean period of 4.3 yr, for a total of 49,687 person-years. Three cases of male breast cancer were observed whereas 0.75 was expected, for a standardized incidence ratio of 4.0 (95% confidence interval, 0.8-11.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Cirrhosis, possibly via high levels of endogenous estrogens, increases the risk of breast cancer in men.

Prevalence and incidence of gallstones in liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to assess the prevalence and incidence of gallstone disease in patients with liver cirrhosis and to identify risk factors for cholecystolithiasis.

METHODS

We studied a cohort of 313 patients with liver cirrhosis confirmed by histology and/or laparoscopy and 357 patients free of liver disease, who had been referred for ultrasonographic examination of the upper abdomen. Hepatobiliary ultrasonography was performed when liver cirrhosis was diagnosed and every 6 months thereafter. Risk factors for cholelithiasis (age, gender, diet, pregnancy, diabetes, family history of cholelithiasis, etiology of cirrhosis, decompensated disease) were assessed.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of gallstones in cirrhotic patients was 23.3%. In controls, the overall prevalence of cholecystolithiasis was 16.8%. After a median follow-up period of 65 months, 30 patients developed gallstones. The calculated annual incidence was 3.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Given that the prevalence of gallstone disease is higher in cirrhotics than in noncirrhotic patients, cirrhosis of the liver may be considered a risk factor for cholecystolithiasis.

Gallstones in cirrhotics revisited by a laparoscopic view

Surgical literature around 1980 has emphasized the technical challenge and the risks of cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients reporting discouraging results. The aim of this study is the retrospective analysis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotics. The collected laparoscopic experience of 3 surgical groups for the last 5 years is reported. Cirrhotics were classified according to Child-Pugh criteria. Postoperative complications were classified using Clavien's rules. Forty patients were recruited; 31 received successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Liver cirrhosis was preoperatively diagnosed in all Child-Pugh B (n = 11) and in 11/20 Child-Pugh A patients. Compared with 989 noncirrhotics undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, cirrhotics were similar in terms of age (59.9+/-10.3 vs. 58.1+/-10.9) and sex (male: 51.6% vs. 50.1%). Acute cholecystitis has a similar frequence in cirrhotics and noncirrhotics (3.2% vs. 4.1%, respectively). Bile duct stones and acute pancreatitis were significantly more frequent in cirrhotic patients (6.4% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.001; and 6.4% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001, respectively). Endoscopic papillotomy and stone extraction combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 2 patients. Intraoperatively, technical problems occurred in 5 (16.1%) patients: liver bed bleeding (n = 4) was significatively more frequent in cirrhotics vs. noncirrhotics (p < 0.001). Mean operative time was 90 min, range 50-180, and it was not significantly longer than in noncirrhotics (85 min, range 30-200). Conversion rate was also similar (3%). Seven patients presented 8 postoperative complications (Class II): right side lung effusion (n = 2), ascites (n = 2), temporary worsening of Child-Pugh status (n = 2), hyperosmotic coma (n = 1), and umbilical hernia (n = 1). Mean hospital stay in noncomplicated cases was the same for noncirrhotics (3+/-1). The authors suggest a more liberal use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones in selected Child-Pugh A and B patients.

Effect of the menstrual cycle on gallbladder fasting volume and postprandial emptying in nulliparous young females

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Reports on the effect of the ovulatory cycle on gallbladder motility are inconsistent. The authors investigated the gallbladder motor function at both phases of the menstrual cycle in humans.

METHODS

Seventeen young, healthy, nulliparous women participated in the study. Gallbladder fasting volume and postprandial emptying were measured twice in each subject using real-time ultrasonography: one at the follicular (12th-13th day) and another at the luteal (21st-22nd day) phases. From the emptying curves, the duration of the lag phase and the ejection fraction of emptying were calculated.

RESULTS

Fasting volume was significantly greater (P = 0.025) at the luteal (14.8 +/- 8 mL standard deviation [SD]) than at the follicular (11.2 +/- 4.7 mL SD) phase. Although the lag phase duration was longer (P = 0.009) at the follicular (5.2 +/- 6.4 SD minutes) than the luteal (1.6 +/- 3.6 minutes SD) phase, the ejection fraction was significantly greater at the latter one (follicular phase: 62 +/- 13.2% SD; luteal phase: 73.4 +/- 14% SD; P = 0.0085).

CONCLUSIONS

Female sex hormones seem to biologically affect the gallbladder motor function.

Cirrhosis: a new, but expected cause of biliary sludge

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Biliary sludge is increasingly recognized as a natural stage in gallstone formation. Logically, cirrhosis, a well-documented cause of black pigment cholelithiasis, should be another condition predisposing to the development of sludge. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of biliary sludge in an unselected population and to test the hypothesis that cirrhosis could be one of the causes of sludge.

METHODS

We reviewed the clinical findings and ultrasonograms of 2138 patients, hospitalized or not, consecutively seen in our department between January 1993 and December 1994. Sonograms showing biliary sludge mixed with stones were excluded. Three hundred and eighty-eight of the 2138 were cirrhotic patients.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of biliary sludge was 4%. Sludge was found in 44 of 388 (11%) of the cirrhotic patients (alcoholism, n = 39; chronic viral B hepatitis, n = 3; hemochromatosis, n = 1; and cryptogenic, n = 1), compared with 42 of 1750 (2%) noncirrhotic patients (p < 0.000001). Thirteen cirrhotic patients received intravenous alimentation for 2 to 17 days, 8 were given somatostatin for variceal bleeding, and 7 have previously had 1 to 5 sessions of endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices with polidocanol.

CONCLUSIONS

This study convincingly demonstrates that cirrhosis must be added to the growing list of conditions associated with biliary sludge.

Prevalence of cholelithiasis according to alcoholic liver disease: a possible role of apolipoproteins AI and AII

Moderate alcohol intakes decreases the risk of gallstones; in contrast, the prevalence of gallstones is increased in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. The aims of this prospective study were to assess the prevalence of cholelithiasis among drinkers according to the histological severity of liver disease, and to estimate the importance of serum apolipoproteins AI and apolipoprotein AII as risk factors for gallstones. Among the 320 drinkers included, 53 patients had cholelithiasis. The prevalence increased (p < 0.0001) from 5% in patients with normal liver (1 of 22) and 6% in patients with steatosis only (3 of 47) to 13% in patients with fibrosis (7 of 54), reaching 27% among patients with biopsy-proven cirrhosis (28 of 103). Among patients with clinically obvious cirrhosis on whom biopsy was not performed mainly because of the severity of liver disease, the prevalence of cholelithiasis reached a maximum of 46% (6 of 13). Among drinkers with nonsevere liver disease, patients with cholelithiasis were older (59 +/- 9 years, mean +/- SD vs. 45 +/- 11, p = 0.003) with lower apolipoprotein AI (118 +/- 37 vs. 163 +/- 45 mg/dl; p = 0.002) and apolipoprotein AII (30 +/- 12 vs. 53 +/- 20 mg/dl; p = 0.0002) in comparison with patients without cholelithiasis. These differences persisted after considering by multiple logistic regression analysis, sex, and ideal body weight. Alcohol consumption during the last 5 years was lower in patients with cholelithiasis (83 g/day) in comparison with patients without cholelithiasis (142 g/day; p = 0.04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gallbladder emptying, plasma levels of estradiol and progesterone, and cholecystokinin secretion in liver cirrhosis

Defective gallbladder emptying has been proposed as a possible accessory pathogenetic factor to explain the increased prevalence of gallstones in liver cirrhosis. In this study we have evaluated the fasting volume and the meal-stimulated emptying of the gallbladder, the plasma levels of estradiol and progesterone, and the basal and postprandial secretion of cholecystokinin in Child A cirrhotic patients compared to normal subjects. Basal (42.2 +/- 27 vs 22.8 +/- 8.4 ml) (P < 0.002) and residual (8.4 +/- 8.7 vs 4.6 +/- 3.8 ml) (P < 0.05) gallbladder volumes were higher in cirrhotics but neither the integrated gallbladder response to meal nor the maximal percentage of emptying was significantly different. Circulating estradiol and progesterone was slightly increased in only 1/13 and 5/13 cirrhotics, respectively. In eight cirrhotics and seven normals taken from the overall populations, the secretion of cholecystokinin was also measured. The fasting plasma level of cholecystokinin was higher in the cirrhotics (6.71 +/- 5.08 vs 2.02 +/- 0.46 pmol/liter) (P < 0.01). The meal-stimulated integrated plasma cholecystokinin response also was greater in cirrhotics (438.5 +/- 615 pmol/liter/270 min) than in normals (153 +/- 170.4 pmol/liter/270 min), but this difference was not significant because of the small study population. In spite of a normal kinetics of postprandial emptying, cirrhotic patients show increased fasting gallbladder volume and increased plasma levels of basal and postprandial cholecystokinin. Circulating estradiol and progesterone do not seem to be responsible for the large gallbladder volume found in liver cirrhosis.

Incidence of gallstones in a population of patients with cirrhosis

One hundred and sixty-five patients with cirrhosis were prospectively investigated, by regular ultrasonographic follow up, to assess the incidence of gallstones. The mean length of follow up was 33 months (range 12 to 108). Cholelithiasis was diagnosed in 31 patients (18.8%), with a cumulative incidence over 84 months of 38.3% (4.7% yearly incidence). The risk of gallstones was similar in males (38%) and females (38.3%), although the final cumulative incidence was reached at 72 months in males. The percentage of patients with new stones was higher in alcoholic cirrhosis (28.9%) (with a cumulative incidence of 48.8% at 84 months) and lower in hepatitis-related cirrhosis (1.9%) (only one new case at 96 months of follow up) (p < 0.001). The cumulative incidence of gallstones in the Child's C group reached 49.3% at 48 months versus 24% in Child's B and 6.4% in Child's A (p < 0.0001). At multivariate analysis, Child's C and alcoholic cirrhosis were shown to be the independent variables significantly associated with a high risk of development of cholelithiasis. This study confirms that cirrhosis represents a high risk factor for gallstones. The risk is greater for alcoholic cirrhosis and increases with the severity of the disease.

Gallstone disease. Pathophysiology, epidemiology, natural history, and treatment options

In 1991, only symptomatic gallstones should be treated. The treatment of choice for all gallstones continues to be surgical removal. Except for stones in the common bile duct, which are amenable to removal by endoscopic papillotomy, nonsurgical treatment of gallstones should be investigated further before it can have widespread applicability. The major challenge in the future may be medical prevention of gallstone formation in susceptible individuals. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy seems to have moved to the forefront of surgical therapy in patients who are candidates for the procedure.

Prospective study of the association of alcohol with cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract and other sites

The association of alcohol consumption with cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, hepato-biliary-pancreatic system, urogenital organs (except for prostate), and lymphohematopoietic tissue was evaluated in a prospective study of 6,701 American men of Japanese ancestry living in Hawaii. Compared with cancer-free subjects, subjects who subsequently developed cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (oral-pharynx, esophagus, and larynx), liver, biliary tract, and lymphohematopoietic tissue consumed significantly larger amounts of total alcohol--mainly in the form of beer. Subjects who developed oral-pharyngeal and esophageal cancer also consumed larger amounts of wine and spirits. Because the upper aerodigestive tract cancers were associated positively with cigarette smoking, age-adjusted relative risks (RR) were calculated, based on joint exposure to cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol intake (greater than or equal to 30 ml/day) in this population. A markedly increased risk was observed among subjects who were both heavy alcohol drinkers and smokers (RR = 17.3, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 6.7-44.2), compared with subjects who who did not smoke and did not drink heavily. The risk for these cancers also was increased among heavy alcohol drinkers who were nonsmokers (RR = 8.6, CI = 2.1-36.0).