BACKGROUND:

Our aim was to assess the prevalence and incidence of gallstone disease in patients with liver cirrhosis and to identify risk factors for cholecystolithiasis.

METHODS:

We studied a cohort of 313 patients with liver cirrhosis confirmed by histology and/or laparoscopy and 357 patients free of liver disease, who had been referred for ultrasonographic examination of the upper abdomen. Hepatobiliary ultrasonography was performed when liver cirrhosis was diagnosed and every 6 months thereafter. Risk factors for cholelithiasis (age, gender, diet, pregnancy, diabetes, family history of cholelithiasis, etiology of cirrhosis, decompensated disease) were assessed.

RESULTS:

The overall prevalence of gallstones in cirrhotic patients was 23.3%. In controls, the overall prevalence of cholecystolithiasis was 16.8%. After a median follow-up period of 65 months, 30 patients developed gallstones. The calculated annual incidence was 3.4%.

CONCLUSIONS:

Given that the prevalence of gallstone disease is higher in cirrhotics than in noncirrhotic patients, cirrhosis of the liver may be considered a risk factor for cholecystolithiasis.