Gallstone disease

• Published in: Journal of internal medicine Vol. 261; no. 6; pp. 529 - 542
• Main Authors: Marschall, H.‐U., Einarsson, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2007; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cholestasis - metabolism; Cholesterol - metabolism; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - adverse effects; Female; Gallbladder - metabolism; Gallbladder - physiopathology; Gallstones - etiology; Gallstones - genetics; Gallstones - metabolism; gastroenterology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; General aspects; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; hepatology; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Other diseases. Semiology; Risk Factors; Medicine; Disease; Gastroenterology; hepatology; Digestive diseases; Gallbladder; Biliary tract disease; Cholelithiasis
• ISSN: 0954-6820; 1365-2796
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2007.01783.x

. Gallstone disease is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases with a substantial burden to health care systems that is supposed to increase in ageing populations at risk. Aetiology and pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones still are not well defined, and strategies for prevention and efficient nonsurgical therapies are missing. This review summarizes current concepts on the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones with focus on the uptake and secretion of biliary lipids and special emphasis on recent studies into the genetic background.