Document Detail


Natural history of gallstone disease: Expectant management or active treatment? Results from a population-based cohort study.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20492328     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The knowledge of natural history is essential for disease management. We evaluated the natural history (e.g. frequency and characteristics of symptoms and clinical outcome) of gallstones (GS) in a population-based cohort study. METHODS: A total of 11 229 subjects (6610 men, 4619 women, age-range: 29-69 years, mean age: 48 years) were studied. At ultrasonography, GS were present in 856 subjects (338 men, 455 women) (7.1%). GS were followed by means of a questionnaire inquiring about the characteristics of specific biliary symptoms. RESULTS: At enrollment, 580 (73.1%) patients were asymptomatic, 94 (11.8%) had mild symptoms and 119 (15.1%) had severe symptoms. GS patients were followed up for a mean period of 8.7 years; 63 subjects (7.3%) were lost to follow up. At the end of the follow up, of the asymptomatic subjects, 453 (78.1%) remained asymptomatic; 61 (10.5%) developed mild symptoms and 66 (11.4%) developed severe symptoms. In subjects with mild symptoms, the symptoms disappeared in 55 (58.5%), became severe in 23 (24.5%), remained stable in 16 (17%); in subjects with severe symptoms, the symptoms disappeared in 62 (52.1%), became mild in 20 (16.8%) and remained stable in 37 (31.1%). A total of 189 cholecystectomies were performed: 41.3% on asymptomatic patients, 17.4% on patients with mild symptoms and 41.3% on patients with severe symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that: (i) asymptomatic and symptomatic GS patients have a benign natural history; (ii) the majority of GS patients with severe or mild symptoms will no longer experience biliary pain; and (iii) a significant proportion of cholecystectomies are performed in asymptomatic patients. Expectant management still represents a valid therapeutic approach in the majority of patients.
Authors:
Davide Festi; Maria Letizia Bacchi Reggiani; Adolfo F Attili; Paola Loria; Paolo Pazzi; Eleonora Scaioli; Simona Capodicasa; Ferdinando Romano; Enrico Roda; Antonio Colecchia
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Multicenter Study    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology     Volume:  25     ISSN:  1440-1746     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol.     Publication Date:  2010 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-05-24     Completed Date:  2010-08-30     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8607909     Medline TA:  J Gastroenterol Hepatol     Country:  Australia    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  719-24     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. davide.festi@unibo.it
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Chi-Square Distribution
Cholecystectomy / adverse effects
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disease Progression
Female
Gallstones / complications,  epidemiology*,  surgery,  ultrasonography
Humans
Italy / epidemiology
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Selection
Population Surveillance
Questionnaires
Recurrence
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Severity of Illness Index
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010 Apr;25(4):651-2   [PMID:  20492320 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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