The composition of gallstones from Irish patients.

Abstract

GEOGRAPHIC and ethnic differences exist in the composition of human gallstones and these can have therapeutic implications. Therefore, the composition of gallstones obtained at cholecystectomy, from 34 Irish patients was examined. The majority of patients (59%) were female. The age range was 21–79 years (x = 54). The major components identified were cholesterol, calcium carbonate, bilirubinate and palmitate. Over 80% of patients had mixed cholesterol stones while two patients had pigment stones. Cholesterol constituted 68.1% of stone material, calcium carbonate 10.7% and calcium bilirubinate 2.5%. Gallstones from females contained more cholesterol than did those of males. Younger patients tended to be female and have a higher stone cholesterol content. Comparison of the results with stone analysis from other countries suggested that the proportion of non cholesterol components may be relatively high in Irish patients, and in common with English stones have a high calcium carbonate content. The therapeutic implications of the results are considered.