ABDOMINAL SYMPTOMS AND FOOD INTOLERANCE RELATED TO GALLSTONES

We have evaluated the association between gallstones and abdominal sym ptoms, comparing two different study designs. We asked questions on ab dominal pain, dyspeptic symptoms, and food intolerance in (1) surgery patients referred for conditions unrelated to gallstones, screened by ultrasound (screening study, n = 892, 63 with gallstones); and in (2) symptomatic patients referred for gallbladder ultrasound (clinical stu dy, n = 336, 71 with gallstones). Gallstones were associated with mid upper abdominal pain in the screening study, and with mid upper abdomi nal pain, biliary pain, and colic (each independently) in the clinical study. When these symptoms were absent (and only dyspeptic symptoms o r food intolerance was present), gallstones were not more common than expected from the general population prevalence (estimated from the sc reening study). When upper abdominal pain symptoms are accounted for, other symptoms (dyspeptic; food intolerance; pain related to food inta ke) have no additional diagnostic value. The results are discussed, co ntrasting different types of studies.