[Chemical composition of gallstones in Santa Cruz--Bolivia].

Abstract

The knowledge of the gallstones chemical composition is very important from view point of lithogenesis and possible medical therapy of dissolution. The composition (chemical) of gallstones in 30 consecutive cholecystectomized patients were studied in the 2nd. Department of Surgery of Hospital San Juan de Dios, Santa Cruz, Bolivia (altitude 1900 m). All gallbladder stones were washed, counted, measured and dried before sending them to Japan to be processed. The composition of gallstones was analyzed by infrared absorption spectroscopy. Cholesterolemia, age, sex and number of stones were analyzed in cases of pure cholesterol stones. The incidence of pure cholesterol stones was 56.6%, statistically similar to be reported by other authors, but very low if compared with the valley area of Bolivia (Cochabamba altitude 2300 m) where hypothyroidism is frequent. Hypercholesterolemia had little relation with the pure cholesterol gallstones. There was no difference in the chemical composition and the size of the stones, but while their number was small, cholesterol stones were more frequent. The low incidence of pure cholesterol stones may show a bad nutritional condition of our population (poor fat and protein content) and this result is important in order in using the new advance: lithodissolvent drugs.