Biomaterial Database

Medical treatment of gallstones. 1979

J A Summerfield

The last 10 years have witnessed an enormous amount of work on the medical dissolution of gallstones. Many compounds have been tested and one, chenodeoxycholic acid, is already available for clinical use in the UK. Others will certainly follow. Much remains to be learned of the mechanisms of action of these drugs and the safety of prolonged administration. Effective methods of preventing gallstone recurrence need to be devised. The practice of cholecystectomy is not yet threatened by medical dissolution of gallstones, but in selected patients medical treatment is now a viable alternative. A start has been made.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009822	Oils, Volatile	Oils which evaporate readily. The volatile oils occur in aromatic plants, to which they give odor and other characteristics. Most volatile oils consist of a mixture of two or more TERPENES or of a mixture of an eleoptene (the more volatile constituent of a volatile oil) with a stearopten (the more solid constituent). The synonym essential oils refers to the essence of a plant, as its perfume or scent, and not to its indispensability.	Essential Oil,Oil, Essential,Oil, Volatile,Oils, Essential,Volatile Oil,Essential Oils,Volatile Oils
D012008	Recurrence	The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission.	Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D002087	Butyrates	Derivatives of BUTYRIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the carboxypropane structure.	Butyrate,n-Butyrate,Butanoic Acids,Butyric Acids,Acids, Butanoic,Acids, Butyric,n Butyrate
D002635	Chenodeoxycholic Acid	A bile acid, usually conjugated with either glycine or taurine. It acts as a detergent to solubilize fats for intestinal absorption and is reabsorbed by the small intestine. It is used as cholagogue, a choleretic laxative, and to prevent or dissolve gallstones.	Chenic Acid,Chenodeoxycholate,Chenodiol,Gallodesoxycholic Acid,Chenique Acid,Chenix,Chenofalk,Chenophalk,Henohol,Quenobilan,Quenocol,Sodium Chenodeoxycholate,Acid, Chenic,Acid, Chenique,Acid, Chenodeoxycholic,Acid, Gallodesoxycholic,Chenodeoxycholate, Sodium
D002769	Cholelithiasis	Presence or formation of GALLSTONES in the BILIARY TRACT, usually in the gallbladder (CHOLECYSTOLITHIASIS) or the common bile duct (CHOLEDOCHOLITHIASIS).	Gallstone Disease,Cholelithiases,Gallstone Diseases
D003840	Deoxycholic Acid	A bile acid formed by bacterial action from cholate. It is usually conjugated with glycine or taurine. Deoxycholic acid acts as a detergent to solubilize fats for intestinal absorption, is reabsorbed itself, and is used as a choleretic and detergent.	Deoxycholate,Desoxycholic Acid,Kybella,Choleic Acid,Deoxycholic Acid, 12beta-Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, 3beta-Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, 5alpha-Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, Disodium Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Magnesium (2:1) Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Monoammonium Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Monopotassium Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Sodium Salt, 12beta-Isomer,Dihydroxycholanoic Acid,Lagodeoxycholic Acid,Sodium Deoxycholate,12beta-Isomer Deoxycholic Acid,3beta-Isomer Deoxycholic Acid,5alpha-Isomer Deoxycholic Acid,Deoxycholate, Sodium,Deoxycholic Acid, 12beta Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, 3beta Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, 5alpha Isomer
D004338	Drug Combinations	Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture.	Drug Combination,Combination, Drug,Combinations, Drug
D005449	Fluorenes	A family of diphenylenemethane derivatives.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001646	Bile	An emulsifying agent produced in the LIVER and secreted into the DUODENUM. Its composition includes BILE ACIDS AND SALTS; CHOLESTEROL; and ELECTROLYTES. It aids DIGESTION of fats in the duodenum.	Biliary Sludge,Sludge, Biliary