Gallbladder contraction in familial dysautonomia

The impaired function of the autonomic nervous system in patients with fami lial dysautonomia (FD) is frequently associated with gastrointestinal dysfu nction. This study sought to determine whether gallbladder contraction is a lso affected in these patients. Nine consecutive patients with FD were asse ssed by real-time ultrasonography for gallbladder volume and calculated per centage of gallbladder contraction before and 45-60 min after a 50 g fatty meal, and compared with nine healthy control patients, matched for age and gender. Gallbladder volume before the fatty meal was found to be larger in healthy controls than in FD patients (25.4 +/- 9.5 and 15.4 +/- 7.4 ml(3) r espectively; p = 0.024). No significant difference was demonstrated between the groups after the fatty meal (controls: 12.1 +/- 6.0; FD: 9.0 +/- 6.6 m i, respectively) and the calculated percentage of gallbladder contraction w as similar in both groups (controls: 53.4 +/- 16.6; FD: 44.8 +/- 18.8%). Th ese results indicate that gallbladder function in FD patients does not diff er from the general population and preventive measures for gallstone format ion are not required.