Is there a place for medical treatment in children with gallstones?

P. G. Gamba; L. Zancan; P. Midrio; M. Muraca; M. T. Vilei; E. Talenti; M. Guglielmi

doi:10.1016/S0022-3468(97)90610-2

Is there a place for medical treatment in children with gallstones?

P. G. Gamba, L. Zancan, P. Midrio, M. Muraca, M. T. Vilei, E. Talenti, M. Guglielmi

Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Medical treatment of gallstones with ursodeoxycholic acid (UOCA) or chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) has not been evaluated in children. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of UDCA in the treatment of gallstones in children. Method: UDCA was used to treat 15 patients, (7 boys and 8 girls; mean age, 7.8 years; range, 3 months to 15 years) for 1 year. All had radiolucent stones with s maximum diameter of 10 mm and a normally contractile gallbladder. Results: The stones disappeared completely in two children but returned later. All symptomatic patients became symptom free. Conclusion: UDCA is ineffective in the treatment of gallstones in children except in terms of relieving symptoms while on treatment.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	476-478
Number of pages	3
Journal	Journal of Pediatric Surgery
Volume	32
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3468(97)90610-2
Publication status	Published - Mar 1997

Keywords

bile acids
chenodeoxycholic acid
Cholelithiasis
ursodeoxycholic acid

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Surgery

Access to Document

10.1016/S0022-3468(97)90610-2

Cite this

@article{1ce88607d9e3403f9d6ed51199dcb447,

title = "Is there a place for medical treatment in children with gallstones?",

abstract = "Background: Medical treatment of gallstones with ursodeoxycholic acid (UOCA) or chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) has not been evaluated in children. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of UDCA in the treatment of gallstones in children. Method: UDCA was used to treat 15 patients, (7 boys and 8 girls; mean age, 7.8 years; range, 3 months to 15 years) for 1 year. All had radiolucent stones with s maximum diameter of 10 mm and a normally contractile gallbladder. Results: The stones disappeared completely in two children but returned later. All symptomatic patients became symptom free. Conclusion: UDCA is ineffective in the treatment of gallstones in children except in terms of relieving symptoms while on treatment.",

keywords = "bile acids, chenodeoxycholic acid, Cholelithiasis, ursodeoxycholic acid",

author = "Gamba, {P. G.} and L. Zancan and P. Midrio and M. Muraca and Vilei, {M. T.} and E. Talenti and M. Guglielmi",

year = "1997",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/S0022-3468(97)90610-2",

language = "English",

volume = "32",

pages = "476--478",

journal = "Journal of Pediatric Surgery",

issn = "0022-3468",