Biomaterial Database

Gallstones: current concepts of pathogenesis and medical dissolution. 1980

E A Shaffer

Gallstone disease constitutes a major health problem in the western world, despite a successful form of surgical therapy, cholecystectomy. The past decade has witnessed considerable advances in our understanding of the physiochemical changes in bile that lead to cholesterol gallstone formation. This knowledge has resulted in a rational basis for identifying agents that could dissolve gallstones and for defining conditions that predispose to gallstone formation which might be eliminated or treated prophylactically. This review examines the concepts of gallstone formation and indicates the current status of medical therapy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010860	Pigments, Biological	Any normal or abnormal coloring matter in PLANTS; ANIMALS or micro-organisms.	Biological Pigments
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
D002763	Cholecystectomy	Surgical removal of the GALLBLADDER.	Cholecystectomies
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
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
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
D014580	Ursodeoxycholic Acid	An epimer of chenodeoxycholic acid. It is a mammalian bile acid found first in the bear and is apparently either a precursor or a product of chenodeoxycholate. Its administration changes the composition of bile and may dissolve gallstones. It is used as a cholagogue and choleretic.	Deoxyursocholic Acid,3 alpha,7 beta-Dihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic Acid,Cholit-Ursan,Cholofalk,Delursan,Destolit,Sodium Ursodeoxycholate,Urdox,Ursacholic Acid,Urso,Urso Heumann,Ursobilane,Ursochol,Ursodiol,Ursofalk,Ursogal,Ursolite,Ursolvan,3 alpha,7 beta Dihydroxy 5 beta cholan 24 oic Acid,Acid, Deoxyursocholic,Acid, Ursacholic,Acid, Ursodeoxycholic,Ursodeoxycholate, Sodium