Publication:

Etiology and chemical composition of gall stone disease: a prospective observational study from the developing world

Background Aim of the study was to assess the etiology and determine the chemical composition of gallstones in our population.

Methods This was a prospective observational study conducted at GMC Srinagar from 2018 to 2020. One hundred patients having gall stone disease were enrolled into the study and after cholecystectomy was performed the stones chemical composition was analyzed by fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The data was collated and analysed.

Results 54 patients had mixed stones with chemical composition of cholesterol, calcium carbonate and calcium bilirubinate; 39 had cholesterol stones and 7 patients had pigmented stone with chemical composition of cholesterol, calcium carbonate and calcium bilirubinate.

Conclusions Our results suggest that cholesterol, either singularly or in combination with calcium carbonate or bilirubin is a common component of gall stones in our population.