Quantitative study of metals in bile from patients with cholelithiasis

OBJECTIVE: biliary lithiasis is a multifactorial phenomenon that is decisiv ely influenced by the composition of bile. We analyzed the presence of eigh t metals in bile and compared their concentrations in healthy persons and p atients with cholelithiasis. METHODS: we studied bile from 119 patients who underwent cholecystectomy be cause of symptomatic cholelithiasis, and from 25 control subjects in whom t he gallbladder was removed for reasons other than cholelithiasis. Metal con centrations were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The subje cts were divided into subgroups according to age, sex and type of stone. RESULTS: bile from patients with cholelithiasis contained significantly les s of the essential element magnesium (Mg) and the toxic element lead (Pb) t han bile from control subjects. Calcium (Ca) and strontium (Sr) concentrati ons were also lower in patients with gallstones than in the control group, although the differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: biliary concentrations of Mg and Pb were significantly lower i n patients with cholelithiasis than in the control group. The biliary excre tion of Ca and Sr was lower in patients than in controls, although the diff erences were not statistically significant.