Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the main clinical features of patients with cholelithiasis, and chemical analysis of stone in relevance to development of gallstone formation. The total number of patients with gallstone in this study was 75 (66 females and 9 males). The ratio of females: males was (7.3:1), this high ratio may be due to multiple factors, including high percentage of multiparity (63.64%), the use of contraceptives (46.97%), family history (44%), obesity (53.3%) and sedentary life style (non-workers) (72%). The stones were classified into cholesterol, pigment and mixed stones. Cholesterol stone was the most prevalent type of stone; its percentage was 49.3 greater than mixed and pigment stones which had percentages of 33.3 and 17.3, respectively. Cholesterol stone showed significantly higher cholesterol content (P < 0.05) than pigment stones; though not significantly higher than mixed stones. Cholesterol content in mixed stone was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than pigment stones. Total bilirubin content in pigment stones was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than mixed and cholesterol stones. The bilirubin content in cholesterol stones was higher [but not significantly (P > 0.05)] than mixed stones. Calcium content in pigment stone was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than cholesterol stones and higher [but not significantly (P > 0.05)] than mixed stones. Inorganic phosphate content in cholesterol stones was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than mixed and pigment stones. The content of inorganic phosphate in mixed stones was insignificantly higher than pigment stones. In conclusion, cholesterol stone was the most common type of stone but interestingly, there was a high ratio of females: males, suggesting efforts to reduce all variable risk factors which lead to cholelithiasis, especially among females.

Key words: Cholelithiasis, chemical constituents, gallstones, Baghdad.