Results of oral litholysis with ursodeoxycholic acid in a patient with cholesterol cholecystolithiasis

Materials and methods. The study involved 58 patients with cholelithiasis: 56.9% – with stones and 43.1% – with biliary sludge; women – 60.3%, men – 39.7%, the average age of the examined was 60.5±11.6 years. The asymptomatic course was in 46.6% of patients, and the pain syndrome was registered in 53.4%. The diagnosis was verified based on the results of ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, the X-ray transparency of the concretions was confirmed by X-ray examination and computed tomography. Single stones were found in 63.6% of the patient and double stones in 36.4% of patients. The size of the concretions was 7.71±4.15 mm (3–15 mm). All patients had from 3 to 5 signs of metabolic syndrome. Patients took UDCA at a dose of 10–13 mg / kg for 6–24 months.

Results. There was a positive clinical picture in most patients. Biliary sludge ceased to be detected in all patients after 3–6 months, concretions less than 5 mm – after 6 months. Larger stones of 5–10 mm completely dissolved after 12 months, in 4 patients with stones of 14–15 mm, after 18–24 months, the concretions decreased to 5–7 mm.

Conclusion. UDCA at a dose of 10–13 mg/kg had a 100-percent effect on the dissolution of biliary sludge after 3–6 months and 79.3% result – with respect to the dissolution of concretions within 12–24 months. In parallel, UDCA demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect, decreased inflammatory markers and decreased endotoxin levels in the blood, as well as improved glucose and lipid metabolism.