[The problem of biliary sludge].

Abstract

The authors review current literature on etiology, pathogenesis and classification of biliary sludge (BS); they analyse factors promoting formation of BS and show that ultrasonic investigation is the key diagnostic method, detecting various forms of BS and differentiating BS with parietal new-growths of the gallbladder, evaluating function of the latter and controlling efficacy of conservative therapy. Follow-up results demonstrate that BS can disappear spontaneously, be persistent in a part of patients, form stones in 20% patients. Clinical picture in BS has no specific symptoms but in 33-75% cases it is associated with development of biliary pancreatitis as a results of secondary dysfunction of the Oddi's sphincter. The latest findings on efficacy of litholytic therapy in BS and data on possible use of nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs as inhibitors of mucin production to prevent recurrent cholelithiasis are presented.

• Authors: A A Il'chenko, T V Vikhrova
• Journal: Klinicheskaia meditsina (Klin Med (Mosk)) Vol. 81 Issue 8 Pg. 17-22 ( 2003) ISSN: 0023-2149 [Print] Russia (Federation)
• Vernacular Title: Problema biliarnogo sladzha.
• PMID: 14520938 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Cholagogues and Choleretics
• Ursodeoxycholic Acid

Topics

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (therapeutic use)
• Bile (chemistry, diagnostic imaging, drug effects)
• Cholagogues and Choleretics (therapeutic use)
• Cholelithiasis (drug therapy, etiology)
• Cholestasis (complications)
• Gallbladder (physiopathology)
• Humans
• Sphincter of Oddi (physiopathology)
• Ultrasonography
• Ursodeoxycholic Acid (therapeutic use)